Dems running away from Pelosi

Politico is reporting this morning that some Democrats facing tough challenges this fall, including North Carolina's Heath Shuler, South Dakota's Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, and Ohio's John Boccieri, are not only running against Republican opponents, but House Speaker Nancy Pelosi as well.

It's an exercise in self-preservation, although the last time a party appeared on the verge of losing its House majority, it was the GOP in 2006. I don't recall GOP candidates running against the speaker at that time, Republican Dennis Hastert.

But the Democrats are in more trouble than I thought. For instance, the man given the difficult task of maintaining the Democratic majority in the lower chamber, Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman Chris Van Hollen was asked about the anti-Pelosi Dems. "I think the Democratic leaders have said the job of the members," the Maryland congressman said, "is to reflect the views of their constituents as best as they are able."

Why weren't they doing that for the last eighteen months?

Big trouble.

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