"going to ground" - Into a den or burrow: a fox going to ground, into hiding
It is not a good time to be a republican. What had been called the new era, halcyon days basking in the warm afterglow of an electoral mandate have turned into their worst nightmare. No longer the straight talking outsiders who vowed long ago to clean up DC, today the GOP's arrogant ham-fisted policies and consumate dirty deals are finally out in the open. The smart money always knows when to hold 'em and fold 'em, and there is mounting evidence that potential republican candidates are keeping their hats out of the ring.
http://www.hillnews.com/thehill/export/TheHill/News/Campaign/100505.html Seems the Vice President misspoke back in May, the only thing that seems to be in the last throes is the Republican Revolution.