Sandra Aust mentioned to me when we spoke a couple of weeks ago that the incumbent state senator, Luann Ridgeway, did herself plenty of political damage in a Democratic leaning district that is especially proud of its schools by supporting vouchers–not just voting for them but co-sponsoring the bill. Her name is mud with public school teachers and administrators, not to mention parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles of school age children.

But she pissed off another influential group as well. She supported tort reform, so trial lawyers are putting some money into the Aust coffers.

Wouldn’t you think that when, as a Republican, you squeak out a victory in a district that has a 52 DPI (Democratic Performance Index), you’d have enough smarts to cool your jets on the topics most likely to alienate the voters. Principles. That’s what makes her so stupid. She has really strong principles.

And she’s been so busy putting them into action that she hasn’t bothered getting herself known in the district. Normally, incumbency is a three to five point advantage because of all the opportunities an office holder has for getting his name before the public and for doing little favors for constituents. But Luann? She skipped that part of the job. SDCC polling, according to Senator Jeff Smith, shows that no other incumbent has lower name ID in her own district.

She’s practically been working for her opponent. Way to go, Ms. Ridgeway.