GOP House Vulnerable

10 December 2011 |permalink | email article

THE latest Democracy Corps survey [December 9] of the Republican House battleground shows the incumbents out of touch with their districts, a climate less favorable to Republicans, weakening support and vulnerability to attack. Republicans have lost half of their vote margin since September, falling to 47 percent, well below their vote in the 2010 election. Their lead evaporates after hearing balanced attacks, falling to 44 percent. These incumbents are crashing with independents. Since September, incumbents have lost 13 points from their margin here, and Democrats trail among independents by only 6 points. These Republicans are weakened by a Republican Party and Republican Congress are intensely unpopular. Only 31 percent now give the Republican Party a warm rating; more than half (52 percent) give the Republican Congress a cool rating. And President Obama is now running even with both potential challengers—a marked improvement since September.

Quotable

Gingrich’s language is often intemperate. He is seized by temporary enthusiasm. He combines absolute certainty in any given moment with continual reinvention over time. These traits are suited to a provocateur, an author, a commentator. They are not the normal makings of a chief executive.—Conservative columnist Michael Gerson, The Washington Post

Fumble prone Rick Perry, in an interview with the Des Moines Register editorial board, criticized the “eight unelected and frankly unaccountable judges” on the Supreme Court, briefly forgetting there are nine members. He also struggled to recall the name of Sonia Sotomayor, Obama’s first appointee to the Court.

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