Interesting column today by Charlie Cook. He explains the dramatic shift in the political environment and the extent to which the Democrats "brand" is damaged.
Key excerpts:
Warnings began sounding last summer, and by now it seems impossible for Democrats to deny that something has gone terribly wrong for their party. In the year since President Obama's inauguration, their celebration has turned into a nightmare.
For Democrats, the first step toward recovery is admitting they have a problem: Over the past 12 months, they have badly damaged their brand.
Any Democrat with a pulse ought to be extremely alarmed by now: The same wave of independent voters that swept away the GOP's majorities in the House and Senate in 2006 could do the same to Democrats, at least in the House, this November 2.
An Ear-Splitting Alarm
Over the past 12 months, Democrats have badly damaged their brand.
by Charlie Cook
Saturday, Jan. 23, 2010
Massachusetts Republican Scott Brown's victory in Tuesday's special election for the Senate should serve as an air-raid siren for the Democratic Party. Warnings began sounding last summer, and by now it seems impossible for Democrats to deny that something has gone terribly wrong for their party. In the year since President Obama's inauguration, their celebration has turned into a nightmare.
To be sure, some Democrats will try to throw their hapless Senate nominee, state Attorney General Martha Coakley, under the bus, blaming her and her campaign for the loss (blame that's partially deserved), as they did in November with their Virginia gubernatorial nominee, Creigh Deeds, after his defeat in a state that had gone for Obama. The same thing happened to New Jersey's Jon Corzine in November when he failed to win a second term as governor in another Obama state. Each of those candidates had flaws, of course, but at some point a party's blame game becomes an exercise in denial.
For Democrats, the first step toward recovery is admitting they have a problem: Over the past 12 months, they have badly damaged their brand.
Continue Reading the Article here.
