Centrists Under Attack in Both Parties

“As the ranks of centrist lawmakers in both parties have thinned, political operatives’ efforts to oust them have intensified,” the Wall Street Journal reports.

“Once, there were 60 to 70 ‘middle-of-the-road’ Democrats in the House… Now, thanks to redistricting and the GOP’s 2010 gains, there are nine House Democrats in districts lost by Mr. Obama, with two retiring at year’s end. The remaining seven–Mr. Peterson, Reps. Nick Rahall of West Virginia, John Barrow of Georgia, Patrick Murphy of Florida, Pete Gallego of Texas and two Arizona lawmakers–are now GOP targets.”

“Democrats, meanwhile, are focusing their sights on 14 House Republicans running for re-election in districts won by Mr. Obama in 2012.”