The continued wrangling over the Democratic presidential nomination is
obscuring one very im****tant fact about this year's elections:
the Republican Party is utterly, utterly screwed.
"GOP leaders warn of election disaster" blared the Politico headline
last week, as "Shellshocked House Republicans got warnings from
leaders past and present Tuesday: Your party's message isn't good
enough to prevent disaster in November, and neither is the NRCC's
money." http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0508/10138.html
....in a closed-door session at the Capitol, National Republican
Congressional Committee Chairman Tom Cole (R-Okla.) told members that
the NRCC doesn't have enough cash to "save them" in November if they
don't raise enough money or run strong campaigns themselves.
That's great news - but here's the even better news.
This is not just conjecture on the part of the Republicans, or some
kind of expectations-lowering game.
It's actually being quietly borne out across the country in real
elections.
Three months ago the Democrats picked up Dennis Hastert's seat in a
special election - that would be former House Speaker Dennis Hastert -
beating the GOP candidate in a district that analysts had labeled
"safe Republican."
http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/Top_News/2008/03/08/democrat_wins_hasterts_district_in_ill/9259/
Last week another special election was held, this time in Louisiana,
to replace retiring Rep. Richard Baker (R).
The election took place in a district held by Republicans since 1974.
George W. Bush won 59% of the vote there in 2004.
http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/05/05/congress.democrats/index.html
Last year Gov. Bobby Jindal (R) carried the district with 56%.
This year the NRCC ran ads which tied the Democratic candidate Don
Cazayoux "to Obama, Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and their
'radical liberal agenda'."
And last week, Cazayoux beat the GOP candidate to take the district
49%-46%.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/2008-05-04-congress_N.htm
Oh, ouch!
The Republican response?
"This election speaks to the potential toxicity of an Obama candidacy
and the possible drag he could have down-ballot this fall," said a
memo released Saturday by the National Republican Congressional
Committee (NRCC).
So I have to say I fancy our chances this year - they've got no money,
they're losing elections in solid red districts, their hysterical
"evil liberals are coming to get you" ads aren't working any more...
and I think the folks at the NRCC might be smoking crack.
By EarlG
Democratic Underground
http://www.democraticunderground.com/
Harry
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