Democrats have to be in panic mode after New York and Nevada last night. Any way you spin the polling, Obama’s economic policies – and in the case of NY-9, his Israel policy – had a heavy influence on these races.
Even more alarming for Democrats: Mediscaring didn’t work.
Which is why it’s no surprise to see Dems suddenly running for the hills from Obama’s Stimulus II in Politico this morning:
“Terrible,” Sen. Jim Webb (D-Va.) told Politico when asked about the president’s ideas for how to pay for the $450 billion price tag. “We shouldn’t increase taxes on ordinary income. … There are other ways to get there.”
“That offset is not going to fly, and he should know that,” said Democratic Sen. Mary Landrieu from the energy-producing Louisiana, referring to Obama’s elimination of oil and gas subsidies. “Maybe it’s just for his election, which I hope isn’t the case.”
“I think the best jobs bill that can be passed is a comprehensive long-term deficit-reduction plan,” said Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.), discussing proposals to slash the debt by $4 trillion by overhauling entitlement programs and raising revenue through tax reforms. “That’s better than everything else the president is talking about — combined.”
Nate Silver sees last night’s upsets as a signal that 2012 may be 2010 all over again for Democrats. Obama figured a drawn-out fight with House Republicans would be good for his reelection. But now he may have to contend with his own party as well.
