Why the Transporation Vote was bad for Democrats

As I try to wrap my head around contested primary races in Allegheny County, no one seems to be letting go on the Transportation Bill. On the surface, I would be in favor of this legislation. Raising the gas tax is a user based fee that goes directly into improving roads and bridges and funding mass transit to get congestion off of the roadways.

However, I believe it was the wrong vote for Democratic legislators. Number 1, the Democrats backed themselves into a tax increase corner if they represent a swing district. Number 2, they upset labor because of the increase in the prevailing wage limit. Number 3, the Democrats are now fighting and spending limited campaign resources to go after each other for a bill that ultimately passed.

On top of that, the Democrats didn't find candidates to run against legislators that voted in favor of the Gas Tax in conservative leaning districts such as Senator Randy Vulakovich's and Rep. Hal English in the North Hills. Instead the Democrats seem more concerned with Primary races in Pittsburgh.

This is why Democrats don't have more seats in the State House and State Senate.

My Election Predictions vs. Results

I didn't fare so bad in who won each race (9 out of 10), but I'm no Nate Silver:

My Predictions for some select races:
President:
President Obama wins with 290 Electoral Votes and also wins the Popular Vote
Obama wins Pennsylvania by 3-4%
ACTUAL RESULT: 5.2%

Pennsylvania U.S. Senate
Senator Bob Casey wins by 6-7%
ACTUAL RESULT: 9.1%

Attorney General
Kathleen Kane wins by 8-9%
ACTUAL RESULT: 14.5%

Treasurer
Rob McCord wins by 9-10%
ACTUAL RESULT: 8.6%

Auditor General
Eugene DePasquale wins by 1-2%
ACTUAL RESULT: 3.2%

Congressional District 12
Keith Rothfus wins by 2-3% over Congressman Mark Critz (I really, really hope that I'm wrong about this one)
ACTUAL RESULT: 3%
*The more I study the results of this race in Beaver County and Allegheny County, the more I am sure that Congressman Jason Altmire would have won vs. Rothfus.

Northern Pittsburgh state legislative races:

State Senate District 37
Raja wins by 5-6% over Matt Smith
PICKED WRONG - ACTUAL RESULT: 5.4%

State House District 30
Hal English wins by 6-7% over David Tusick
ACTUAL RESULT: 13.4%

State House District 16
Rob Matzie wins by 5-6% over Kathy Coder
ACTUAL RESULT: 12.8%
*Kathy Coder is President of Bellevue Council and she lost every voting district in Bellevue.

State House District 20
Adam Ravenstahl wins by 55% over James Barr
ACTUAL RESULT: 63.6%

Predictions

My Predictions for some select races:

President:
President Obama wins with 290 Electoral Votes and also wins the Popular Vote
Obama wins Pennsylvania by 3-4%

Pennsylvania U.S. Senate
Senator Bob Casey wins by 6-7%

Attorney General
Kathleen Kane wins by 8-9%

Treasurer
Rob McCord wins by 9-10%

Auditor General
Eugene DePasquale wins by 1-2%

Congressional District 12
Keith Rothfus wins by 2-3% over Congressman Mark Critz (I really, really hope that I'm wrong about this one)

Northern Pittsburgh state legislative races:

State Senate District 37
Raja wins by 5-6% over Matt Smith

State House District 30
Hal English wins by 6-7% over David Tusick

State House District 16
Rob Matzie wins by 5-6% over Kathy Coder

State House District 20
Adam Ravenstahl wins by 55% over James Barr