The Latest Poll

MANIFESTO

Clearly, the Democrats had their chance and blew it.

A new public opinion survey for NPR shows just how difficult it will be for Democrats to avoid big losses in the House this November.

Democrat Stan Greenberg and Republican Glen Bolger conducted the first public battleground poll of this election cycle. They chose the 70 House districts experts regard as most likely to oust incumbents this fall. What they found was grim news for Democrats.

In a nutshell, I think the problem is stated by

Frank Damico Jr., a lawyer from Louisiana, [who] says he wishes the health care bill had been stronger. He wants to see his party fight harder against special interests and against Republicans.

"The Democrats have been afraid, and I wish they would realize who put them in office," Damico said. "I think they are more concerned with placating the right when I don't think they are going to get the right supporting them no matter what they do."

This accuracy of this sentiment seems pretty obvious, but the Dems don't seem to care. With all of BO's promises of change two years ago, the party simply hasn't delivered. Apparently it'll cost them in November.

So, if we think we've seen a legislative morass during the last two years, it's likely that we ain't seen nothing yet.