All are very good questions and they are being answered here locally. The debates are very informative and telling. This is where the voters are getting the lions share of their information. What you are seeing/hearing is the national fallout from her gaffs.
Christine O'Donnell knocked the incumbent (Mike Castle) out in the primaries and it's a real shame. He was a Republican with a good head on his shoulders, he was a good fit for the area. He worked with both sides and wasn't an extremist in any sense of the word.
Issues are the most important consideration when it comes to hiring our legislators, but you cannot hire someone just because they stand on the right side of the issues. They need to be able to work within the system and when you are bat crap crazy, you will not be able to effectively do your job.
Everybody here knows she isn't serious. This is the third time she is running for Senate here. She is only "interviewing" to be a Fox news pundit/commentator. Just watch, after she is slaughtered in the election, you will see Fox news hire her, it's been her goal all along.