It’s reported that Nancy Pelosi and the Democrats are doing “triage” in an attempt to save their House majority from an anticipated Republican tsunami on Nov. 2. If a really huge GOP wave comes crashing ashore on Election Day, even a challenge to Steny Hoyer — called “the longest of long-shot races” by Congressional Quarterly — might stand a chance at scoring an upset:

In 2006, Hoyer got 83% of the vote (the GOP didn’t even have a challenger against him), but in 2008, he only got 74% – Republican Collins Bailey got more than 80,000 votes in a high-tide year for Democrats (Obama carried the 5th District by a 2-to-1 margin). 
Democrat enthusiasm is way down this year, so the turnout is likely to be far lower. In 2006, there were barely 200,000 votes cast in the 5th District race. So if there is a similar turnout Nov. 2, and [5th District GOP candidate Charles] Lollar merely matches the GOP’s 80,000 total from 2008, that puts him at 40% — add another 20,000 votes from fed-up-with-Obamanomics Tea Party types, and an upset becomes feasible. . . .

Charles Lollar has an impressive résumé — an up-from-the-ranks Marine Corps Reserve officer endorsed by Combat Veterans for Congress — and if he wins the Sept. 14 GOP primary in Maryland’s 5th District, Steny Hoyer might need some “triage” close to home.