There’s no doubt that even though they are facing the possibility of triple losses tomorrow, Democrats have found a talking point they are comfortable with.
On the Sunday shows yesterday and in conversations with reporters today, Democrats from the White House press secretary to the national campaign committees say moderates clearly aren’t welcome in the Republican Party.
They found this message in the election in New York’s 23rd Congressional district, where conservative party candidate Doug Hoffman is surging.
There have been few Republicans to say this publicly, so the Democrats are saying it for them. All day long Democratic operatives have emailed TPMDC links to news stories suggesting the GOP is in “chaos” or the party is in “turmoil.”
President Obama’s White House has done a nice job of picking off the social moderates, elevating Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman to be ambassador to China and Rep. John McHugh (R-NY) to be Secretary of the Army. (That’s why the NY-23 seat is vacant.)
White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs jumped on the bandwagon this afternoon, saying the Hoffman surge in New York is “fascinating.”
He noted the district has a history of sending “moderate” Republicans to Washington that dates back to the 1800s.
He said Republicans “kicked out the moderate and is now full-square behind or at least part of — part of the party seems to be full- square behind somebody much more conservative.”
Gibbs said it “appears to be” a trend.
“If you look at what I think is likely to happen next year, you already have Republicans — some Republicans who are more aligned with the very conservative element of what’s happening in New York saying, this is a model for what you’ll see throughout the country,” Gibbs said.
ABC News is reporting that Club for Growth president Chris Chocola said on the network’s “Top Line” show today that his conservative group may target moderate Republicans next year.
Chocola said Senate candidate Gov. Charlie Crist (R-FL) and other moderate Republicans “can expect aggressive primary challenges.”
Today in New York, Vice President Joe Biden stumped for Democrat Bill Owens by asking voters to convince their GOP friends to come on board. He was specifically targeting “good-thinking, open-minded” Republicans, he said.
The president may not have to offer his own political punditry until after the results are in, and the final tally is unlikely to warm Democratic hearts.
The White House for several days has said there is little national significance to be gleaned from the elections, and Obama will be in Madison, Wisconsin on Wednesday for an education event as the inside-the-Beltway crowd rehashes what went wrong for Democrats.
Republicans are prepared to call it a groundswell for the party’s chances in 2010. Strategists we’ve talked to today aren’t interested in weighing in about which wing of the Republican party is winning given the race in New York’s 23rd Congressional district, and instead are looking at the races as a referendum on Obama.
“Preparing for a revolution – starting tomorrow in VA and NJ,” tweeted Virginia Republican State Leadership Committee spokeswoman Carrie Cantrell.
Conservative blogger Patrick Ruffini offered a similar message today: “Change is coming to Virginia and New Jersey. One more day.”
The DNC’s Brad Woodhouse wrote on their site today:
When moderate Republican Dede Scozzafava dropped out of the special election in NY-23 on Saturday – then endorsed Democratic candidate Bill Owens on Sunday – she laid bare a serious problem for the Republican Party, regardless of who wins the special election tomorrow.
The Republican Party is increasingly dominated by its radical right wing, which harbors extreme views on everything from tax policy and health care, to social issues and foreign policy.
Right wing groups spent more than $1 million against Scozzafava, while the national Republican Party spent $1 million on her behalf – to no avail. Her decision to drop out of the race – just four days before the election – is yet another indication that there is no room for moderate Republicans in today’s GOP.
