Democrats Sweep Special Elections For First Time In 30 Years

Democrats Sweep Special Elections For First Time In 30 Years

It's hard to comprehend the significance of Mississippi Democrat Travis Childers' win last night in his special election. Childers beat his Republican opponent, Greg Davis, by a solid eight points in one of the most conservative districts in the country. In addition to huge demographic advantages, the GOP brought in Trent Lott, Haley Barbour, Thad Cochran, and even Vice President Dick Cheney to stump for Davis. And the national groups contributed almost $2 million to the conservative candidate.

Marc Ambinder tries to give the Mississippi special election some perspective, noting that the district's vote for Bush in 2004 is roughly the same margin as the Los Angeles vote for John Kerry:

What it is similar to is the margin by which Kerry beat Bush in Los Angeles County -- 27.6%.

Can you imagine the meltdown if (in some hypothetical countywide election) L.A. County had just gone Republican by 8 points?

Daily Kos, meanwhile, rounds up headlines that foretell a gloomy GOP:

Newsmax: GOP Loses Congressional Election, Faces Bloodbath in Nov.

Hot Air: Disaster: Democrat beats Republican in Mississippi special election; Update: Panic time, say Boehner, Cole

Red State: Clean House at the NRCC

RCP: GOP Stunned By Loss in Mississippi

NRO:We Are Totally Frakked [Mark Krikorian]

Politico: Cole issues surrender declaration following Mississippi loss

MSNBC: Why GOP's Mississippi House loss resonates

US News: Mississippi Burning

First Read: House GOPers Stomping Mad Over Prospects

Josh Marshall breaks down what the past three special election losses by Republicans could mean in November:

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