By DAVID M. HERSZENHORN and CARL
HULSE
NYT
WASHINGTON — The few remaining Republican centrists
in the Senate were eagerly awaiting the arrival of Michael N. Castle of
Delaware, a longtime and reliable moderate voice who could provide some
counterbalance to the wave of conservatives poised to enter Congress and
the steadily rightward shift of party leaders.
But Mr. Castle
was defeated in his party primary on Tuesday by Christine O’Donnell, a
Tea Party insurgent. And while the conservative wing rejoiced, the
surprise outcome raised serious questions about the future place in the
party of lawmakers like Senators Olympia J. Snowe and Susan Collins of
Maine and other Republicans in the Senate and House who are not
lock-step conservatives.
Senator Jim DeMint, the South Carolina
Republican who has seen his stature rise through his support of
conservative candidates, made it clear in the aftermath of the Delaware
upset that he would prefer losing a seat to Democrats than having
Republican colleagues who stray from the conservative line and erode
party unity and image by voting for policies supported by the Obama
administration.
The ascendancy of the right is forcing even some
of the most loyal Republicans, like Senator Lamar Alexander of
Tennessee, the No. 3 Senate Republican, to defend their conservative
bona fides. And it seems to be dashing the hopes among moderates that
the prospect of winning a majority in the House, and a pursuit of
independent voters, would push Republican leaders to the middle.
(More
here.)
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