I can’t believe that one worked–the seat belt issue is hysterical because the best way to handle is just to say it is settled instead of actually getting into a debate over the issue.
11th Hour and Abelog cover the issue. Jim gets the political handling correct, but the reason the issue was raised is being missed.
Seat belt laws had very strong opponents when they were passed, but now that they are the law, they are pretty non-controversial. I doubt there would be a strong movement to repeal them because there is no real interest other than angry cranks (who disproportionately make up talk radio). Where the issue fits for the Blagojevich campaign isn’t a full blown debate, but taking a safety issue that suburban women think is a good idea and putting Topinka on the spot. It won’t turn a vote, but it does start a process the Blagojevich camp wants to start–the questioning of her values. People don’t vote on a laundry list for the most part, most vote on a vague sense of who shares their values and by beginning to question whether Topinka’s values match that of most suburban women, the process is started.
Don’t get me wrong, it might not work, but as far as a first salvo, Democrats got the upperhand as Topinka’s press people seem to be in primary mode worrying about the base and not the swing voters.