On some comment threads yesterday I said the best outcome for Democrats from the OH-02 result would be for conservatives and Republicans to giggle and mock Democrats for losing and pretend nothing went wrong in this race.
Publicly, at least, I'm starting to hear some of that. Some Republicans are writing into Eric Pfeiffer at National Review with comments.
From a "well-placed GOP source":
Democrats Failed in OH-02 Despite Enormous Help - Even with an extraordinary amount of national media attention showered on Hackett, a huge last-minute influx of money from Democrat-affiliated special interests and other liberal online groups, and aggressive help from online bloggers, Democrats failed in OH-02. Despite all the national attention and online support, national Democrats failed to support Hackett.
The President Remains Popular Among Republicans - The OH-02 special demonstrated that the President remains immensely popular among Republican base voters, and that Democrat attempts to make congressional elections a referendum on the President's policies in districts where Republicans outnumber Democrats will not work.
Good analysis, GOP source. If a Democrat opposes Bush in a district that voted 63% for him, he'll lose. But what would happen if he tried it in Henry Hyde's district IL-06, Bush 53%? Or Mark Kennedy's district MN-06, Bush 52%? Or Don Sherwood's district PA-10, Bush 56%? Or Marilyn Musgrave's district CO-04, Bush 56%?
Hey, never mind that stuff. Keep gloating!
Pfeiffer also talked to National Republican Congressional Committee spokesman Ed Patru.
The Republican won. Despite the national media attention and Democrat focus on turnout, it was a 29 percent turnout. The history of special elections tend to be closer than regular year contests.
...
If Nancy Pelosi and Rahm Emanuel think last night's race was a referendum on President Bush's Iraq policy, ask them why neither contributed money to Paul Hackett. Democrats activists wasted money on another race they don't have. With Democrats holding about a third of the cash Republicans have for congressional races, they cannot afford to keep investing heavily in races like this while having to abandon other candidates.
You heard him! The RCCC is positively
ecstatic that they had to spend $300,000+ defending the most Republican seat in Ohio! Do your worst, Democratic losers!
More of this, please.