No surprises in down-ticket races
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By Peter Hirschfeld and Daniel Barlow Vermont Press Bureau - Published: November 5, 2008
MONTPELIER — Rep. Peter Welch, the Democratic incumbent who went unchallenged by Republicans in his first congressional re-election campaign, cruised to a second term by a heavy margin Tuesday.
With nearly 50 percent of precincts tallied, Welch commanded more than 80 percent of the popular vote. His only major-party opposition came from Progressive Thomas Hermann and Liberty Union candidate Jane Newton. A trio of Independent candidates also appeared on the ballot.
At the Democrats' election-night party in Burlington, Welch took the stage shortly after 8:30 p.m. to a wave of applause. He said Tuesday was the latest in a series of political changes the United States is experiencing – a change that began in 2006 when Democrats regained control of the U.S. House and the U.S. Senate.
"Tonight it is beginning again here in our state where you Vermonters have decided to send a thunder bolt for change by returning your voice for change to Congress and voting for the new president who will be elected tonight – Barack Obama," Welch said.
Independent candidate Mike Bethel, a 57-year-old Bennington resident, ran a distant second with 6 percent of the vote. Independents Jerry Trudell and Cris Ericson earned 4 percent and 3 percent, respectively. Hermann, a 29-year-old Iraq War veteran running on an anti-war platform, scooped 3 percent of the vote in his first-ever run for elected office. Newton also picked up 2 percent.
Welch, the former Democratic Senate President Pro Tem from Windsor County, earned his seat in Washington, D.C., after a hotly contested 2006 race against Republican candidate Martha Rainville.
He quickly landed slots on key committees, including the Committee on Rules and the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform that put him out front on issues from global warming to conditions at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.
Welch easily won the Democratic Party's nomination for a second term with 90 percent of the vote in September. He also won the Republican nomination. In the weeks leading up to the general election, he cemented high approval ratings by helping to secure nearly $20 million in addition federal heating aid.
In down-ticket races for statewide office, all four Democratic incumbents earned two-year extensions from voters.
With slightly more than 50 percent of the statewide vote tallied, State Auditor Thomas Salmon, Treasurer Jeb Spaulding, Attorney General Bill Sorrell and Secretary of State Deb Markowitz all had at least 70 percent of the popular vote.
Salmon, 45, is a U.S. Naval Reservist currently on active duty in Iraq. He had 85 percent of the vote as of about 11:30 p.m. Tuesday, despite Pentagon rules that prevented him from campaigning – or even agreeing to media interviews.
Salmon's wife, campaign manger and father – former Gov. Thomas Salmon – ran his campaign in his absence.
Sorrell had locked up 72 percent of the votes, well ahead of his Republican challenger Karen Kerin, who was firmly in second place with 20 percent.
Sorrell began his victory speech in Burlington on Tuesday by referencing his much-mocked 2006 victory dance – which was allegedly placed on YouTube.com by state Republicans – and joking that his "happy dance" didn't scare away any voters.
"There aren't going to be many Republicans with much to dance about tonight," he said.
Sorrell concluded by saying he is looking forward to "working with the White House on environmental protection instead of suing them."
Secretary of State Deb Markowitz, who was outpacing Republican challenger Eugene Bifano, 70 percent to 24 percent, was surrounded by children wearing shirts supporting Obama as she spoke Tuesday evening. She used them to make a joke at the expense of another woman on the ballot that day.
"These aren't all my children, "Markowitz joked. "I'm not competing with Sarah Palin." She added that she is overjoyed by today's voter turnout, especially from young voters. She said that her oldest daughter voted for the first time today.
"These are now lifetime voters."
State Treasurer Jeb Spaulding appeared as both a Democrat and Republican on Tuesday's ballot (the Democratic incumbent actually won the Republican primary in September) and had garnered more than 90 percent of the vote.
At an acceptance speech in Burlington, he noted that two years ago he played a Cat Stevens song at his reelection party that contained the phrase: "I feel a change a' coming."
He joked that he didn't realize that the phrase would become the mantra of the 2008 campaign.
"Man, we got a long way to go," he said. "But you ain't seen nothing yet."
U.S. Sen. Bernard Sanders, an independent, said everyone should take great pride in the fact that Vermont was the first state to be called tonight in support of Obama. He said historians will look back at his political campaign "as the best in living memory."
But the work is not all done after tonight, Sanders said. Grassroots political activism needs to continue to ensure successful reform of the country's financial policies and other key issues, he said.
"At the time when people are so demoralized, we are looking at the largest voter turnout in years," Sanders said.
The Progressive Party, which fielded candidates in five statewide offices, was seeking to earn 5 percent of the vote in at least one of those contests to retain major-party status.
With more than 50 percent of votes counted Tuesday, Progressive candidates in three races were on pace to meet the threshold.
Martha Abbott looked poised to clear the hurdle with 12 percent of the vote in the race for auditor. Don Schramm had won 7 percent of the vote in his race for treasurer, and Charlotte Dennett had earned 5 percent of the vote in her bid for attorney general.
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