An Important Nugget

Here's an interesting article that has an extremely important little nugget in it that really reveals the problems the Democrats are facing, especially if the netroots succeed in dragging the party hard to the left. The article describes how, despite all the cheer leading in the press right now, most Democrats are very reluctant to actually predict victory in November.

WASHINGTON - Call it the campaign with no margin for Republican error, in a nation that is war-weary and eager for change, yet seems wary of the Democratic option.

Even Republicans tacitly concede they will lose seats in both the House and Senate in Nov. 7 elections midway through President Bush's second term. Yet Democrats, long out of power, are loath to predict publicly they will gain the six Senate and 15 House seats they need for control of Congress.

Voters like Jim Meyer are part of the reason one party is scuffling, yet the other not completely confident.

"I think we're in a lot of trouble," said the 59-year-old resident of Greenhills, Ohio, a Bush voter in 2004. His reasons: "Our commitment overseas, using our National Guard as much as we're using it, calling back our troops" to duty.

Still, he sized up the political alternative in less-than-glowing terms. "I think a lot of Democrats come across as crazies." (Emphasis added)

It's an impression Democrats are determined to negate — and Republicans eager to reinforce — in the 10 weeks from the traditional Labor Day campaign kickoff until Election Day. In all, 33 Senate seats, the entire 435-member House, 36 governorships and hundreds of ballot questions will go before the voters.

That is an enormously telling comment, whether the Democrats choose to pay attention or not. This is exactly what myself and a lot of other people have been warning against. The further left the party staggers, the worse that perception will get to the average voter. That may very well be why Hillary is keeping her options open at the moment.

Other Links to this Post

1. Blue Crab Boulevard » Blog Archive » Rah, Rah, Siss, Boom…. Bah. — Monday, 4 September , 2006 @ 3:50 pm