Top 10 mistakes of Election 2010

We all make mistakes. But in the world of politics, it’s an art form. Here’s our list of favorites from Election 2010, in no particular order, and focused on mistakes that could affect the outcome of a race.

Alan Grayson’s ‘Taliban Dan’ ad

Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel/AP
Rep. Alan Grayson meets the Orlando Sentinel editorial board Oct. 12.

Rep. Alan Grayson (D) of Florida is one of the House’s more bombastic members. Last year the Democrat warned in a floor speech that the Republican health care plan is to “die quickly.”

If the freshman rep’s political career wasn’t to die quickly, he needed to dial back the rhetoric. But an ad he released in September didn’t exactly reassure moderates in his Orlando district: It equated Republican challenger Daniel Webster with the Taliban, calling him a “religious fanatic” who believes wives should “submit” to their husbands.

The problem is, the ad wasn’t true. The comments from Mr. Webster, former speaker of the Florida House, had been edited to make him appear to say the opposite of what he actually said. Representative Grayson was reprimanded in the Orlando media, and now his chances of reelection appear slim to none.

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