The Race for Congress: The World Is Changing. I Sense It On The Blogs. I Read It In The Press.
If Democrats pull off a November comeback from the brink of disaster -- and I emphasize if -- they will point to events of the last few days, particularly that moment in time Tuesday evening when the Associated Press called the Delaware Republican primary for Christine O'Donnell.
Yes, it gave the Democrats breathing room in their battle to hold the Senate. Going from an almost sure defeat to a likely victory will do that. But more than that it seemed to provide a catalyst that could be used rally the base -- and Gallup, if not Obama, knows -- the base needs rallying.
If nothing else the underlying sentiment that came out of Tuesday seemed to be "By God, if the Republicans are so batshit insane as to hand us a perfectly good Senate seat, who knows what could happen?" Instead of moping around crying "Doom, doom!" there now seems to be a sense that victory is possible. Throw in a few Obama speeches reminiscent of 2008, a few polls showing all is not lost in a some House races and in Senate races in Washington, Kentucky, and New Hampshire, and you've got a seed in your hands.
Couple that with signs, however tentative and marginal, that the economy is getting better -- the Dow up steadily the last week, first time unemployment claims slightly down, exports up, consumer spending up, manufacturing output increasing, and that seed gets planted.
Throw in signals, however tentative, that the Senate might actually do something -- a small business bill succeeding in a cloture vote, Harry Reid announcing that Don't Ask Don't Tell and The Dream Act will be brought to a vote next week, a chance to put Republicans on the spot voting against tax cuts for the middle class, and the seed has the potential to create a tiny shoot ready to break through into sunlight.
Of course it could all be crushed. All it will take is one boot from the economy, or from a still-paralyzed Senate, or from self-defeating actions by Blue Dogs in the House, or from polls that won't turn around. That happens sometimes. Seeds wither and die.
But some seeds grow up. This one just might.
Yes, it gave the Democrats breathing room in their battle to hold the Senate. Going from an almost sure defeat to a likely victory will do that. But more than that it seemed to provide a catalyst that could be used rally the base -- and Gallup, if not Obama, knows -- the base needs rallying.
If nothing else the underlying sentiment that came out of Tuesday seemed to be "By God, if the Republicans are so batshit insane as to hand us a perfectly good Senate seat, who knows what could happen?" Instead of moping around crying "Doom, doom!" there now seems to be a sense that victory is possible. Throw in a few Obama speeches reminiscent of 2008, a few polls showing all is not lost in a some House races and in Senate races in Washington, Kentucky, and New Hampshire, and you've got a seed in your hands.
Couple that with signs, however tentative and marginal, that the economy is getting better -- the Dow up steadily the last week, first time unemployment claims slightly down, exports up, consumer spending up, manufacturing output increasing, and that seed gets planted.
Throw in signals, however tentative, that the Senate might actually do something -- a small business bill succeeding in a cloture vote, Harry Reid announcing that Don't Ask Don't Tell and The Dream Act will be brought to a vote next week, a chance to put Republicans on the spot voting against tax cuts for the middle class, and the seed has the potential to create a tiny shoot ready to break through into sunlight.
Of course it could all be crushed. All it will take is one boot from the economy, or from a still-paralyzed Senate, or from self-defeating actions by Blue Dogs in the House, or from polls that won't turn around. That happens sometimes. Seeds wither and die.
But some seeds grow up. This one just might.