The Politico is reporting that Rep. Parker Griffith (D-Ala.) will become a Republican today. The freshman represents a conservative district seen as a prime pickup opportunity for the GOP in 2010, shades of 1994-95. This illustrates the awkward position red- and purple-district Democrats find themselves in after a year of tough votes forced by the Obama administration and the congressional Democratic leadership. Barack Obama wasn’t popular in some of these districts when he was winning in 2008; he hasn’t gotten more popular in them now.
Like a lot of Blue Dogs, Griffith has a voting record that pleases nobody. This move doesn’t ensure his reelection. He is still likely to face a Republican primary challenge to his right.
