Tuesday's Lesson: Democrats' Best Hope Is More Ted Cruz
WASHINGTON -- No, Obamacare didnt almost cost Terry McAuliffe his narrow gubernatorial victory in Virginia. But dodging that bullet shouldnt be much comfort to other Democrats.
For one, its not clear that implementation of the Affordable Care Act is going to improve or that, even if it does, the law will become more popular. Plus, McAuliffe was saved by two factors that Democrats wont necessarily be able to repeat elsewhere in 2014: a monumental cash advantage and a local electorate deeply affected by a federal government shutdown.
So the lesson of Virginia is obvious: What the Democrats really need is another Ted Cruz-led crisis.
First-wave analysis of the closer-than-expected Virginia result accepted the explanation -- rising distaste for Obamacare -- put forward by the losing Republican, Ken Cuccinelli. And it is true that candidate McAuliffe took no chances when it came to the controversial, complex program. He mentioned it only obliquely, focusing just on the expansion of Medicaid the law makes possible. Neither President Barack Obama nor Vice President Joe Biden mentioned it at all when they campaigned in Virginia in the final hours.
>>>>
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/06/democrats-ted-cruz_n_4227395.html