I know that it’s become popular to get all down in the dumps about the Delaware Senate race. I know that it’s all a “done deal” and no amount of campaigning or prodding can change the outcome. The die has been cast.

Alea iacta est.

These words were made famous when Julius Caesar spoke them as he led his army across the Rubicon. Caesar was now in direct defiance and civil war and past the point of no return.

O’Donnell won her primary despite the best efforts of the Delaware GOP and Castle. This race was a contentious one and it has been, more than any other, like a civil war between the moderate and conservative factions of the party.

Since her win she has largely been on her own, still fighting the smears on the left and the potshots from the right. She has had to do all the post primary work, like reuniting the party, without the assistance of the State party. Despite this she has launched what I think is a good ad campaign combined with mailings. She also beat Coons in back to back debates in a matter of 24 hours.

At this point, two weeks out from election day and 2 debates left, a new Rasmussen poll shows Coons at 51% and O’Donnell at 40%.

Now ask yourself this.

If the Delaware GOP had held just one event for O’Donnell since the primary, could this race be closer?

If the Delaware GOP had posted a full throated endorsement of O’Donnell, might that have caused this race to tighten?

If the Delaware GOP had used it’s social media platforms, like Facebook and twitter, to support O’Donnell, would that have helped move this race to a toss up?

Unfortunately, we will never know what could, might, or would have happened because the Delaware GOP did nothing to support O’Donnell and Mike Castle refused to endorse. I haven’t scene a new FEC filing for either O’Donnell or the Delaware GOP, but I suspect there would be little proof of support in it even if I had. In all, the Delaware GOP has been an epic fail. First in propping up Castle, now in not supporting O’Donnell.

As Red State’s Patron Saint of Lost Causes, it would cause me great pleasure to see the Delaware GOP, and more specifically Tom Ross, get double burned by O’Donnell managing a win on her own. Alas, I won’t claim that Christine O’Donnell is poised to march on Rome, though it’s not totally outside the realm of possibility for her to win. I am just here to say the die has been cast.

Alea iacta est.

The people of Delaware, moderates and conservatives alike, have been shown who is willing to fight for them to be represented in the US Senate. Clearly it isn’t the Delaware GOP as it currently exists, and for that, Tom Ross should be ashamed.

Tom Ross said, after the primary was over, that “The Delaware Republican Party plans on doing what it does every election year – working hard for our candidates”. If this is what can be expected every election year, then we are in dire straights in Delaware.

So despite her trailing in the polls, I tip my hat to Christine O’Donnell for crossing the Rubicon. Maybe this can spark a reform of the Delaware GOP that appears to be badly needed.

Aaron B. Gardner

P.S. Go Christine!