The fact is that many of the Senate Republicans' top recruits
are, in varying degrees, moderates: Charlie Crist in Florida, Rob
Simmons in Connecticut, Mark Kirk in Illinois, Kelly Ayotte in
New Hampshire, and they are still hoping for Michael Castle in
Delaware. (Castle is 70 and another member of the cap and trade
eight.)
In some cases, like Florida and Connecticut, there are more
conservative candidates in the race who poll competitively in
general election matchups but not quite as well as the moderate
frontrunners. (I discuss this in the July/August issue of the
print magazine.) In other cases, like Illinois and Delaware, the
moderates are pretty clearly the best -- only? -- chance the
Republicans have.
Generally speaking, I don't think electing someone with an "R"
next to their name rather than a "D" is that important if they
are going to vote in ways I dislike most of the time. This is
especially true for someone like me, who is off the reservation
on the few issues where moderates tend to vote with the party.
But for conservatives to have any leverage in Washington, it is
important to get the Democrats below 60 seats in the Senate,
which may sometimes require supporting less than ideal
candidates. It's the
Arlen Specter dilemma all over again. Unless all these
moderates become Democrats.
