From the Roman Hruska "Regressing to the Mean" files

Delaware Republican senatorial candidate Christine O'Donnell did not receive the degree from Fairleigh Dickinson University because she'd not paid her tuition. A cached copy of her campaign web site states: In 1993, I participated in my school’s Cap and Gown ceremony. Yet, the “diploma” in my hand was actually a bursar’s bill for outstanding tuition payments. (The current version of the web site, Christine O'Donnell for U.S. Senate — Fighting For The First State, has no content behind it, except for a link for donations.)
The difficulty that she had with her tuition and student loan loan have become a virtue.

“It took me 12 years to pay off my college degree, my college loans,” she said. “I’m not a trust-fund baby. Most Delawareans can relate to having to work hard to pay for their college education. I was never dishonest about that.”

via O'Donnell Says Rove Is Eating 'Humble Pie' - NYTimes.com

It reminds me of Sarah Palin's defense of Bristol Palin's out-of-wedlock sexual activity and child-birth as strong pro-life statement.

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Senator Roman Hruska, R-Nebraska, in defense of accusations against Supreme Court nominee Harold Carswell that Carswell was a mediocre intellect, famously said, "Even if he is mediocre there are a lot of mediocre judges and people and lawyers. They are entitled to a little representation, aren't they, and a little chance? We can't have all Brandeises, Cardozos, and Frankfurters, and stuff like that there." --  http://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/common/briefing/Nominations.htm