Deeds' spanking is a wake-up call for national Dems

Creigh Deeds, the Democratic gubernatorial candidate in blue-state Virginia, attempted to corral the conservative vote. He ignored, and at times disparaged, progressive causes. And Barack Obama's youth support is not turning out for that. Virginia looks to be a plain obvious that Obama can still pull people out. I don't think Corzine was hurt at all by campaigning with him. These moderates are typified by their feckless and conflicted representatives, as David Kurtz so aptly describes:

When backed into a corner by reporters, the centrist is known to give vague, uncomfortable answers, eye flitting about looking for escape routes.

So what does that mean in 2010? Progressives will have to work a little harder if they want to out gun conservatives next year. Kos on why 2010 could be contentious:

2010 will be a base election. The party best able to turn out its core voters has the best chance of winning. If Democrats want to see a repeat of Virginia at the national level next year, then they should cave to Blue Dogs and the media nabobs and water down reform efforts (whether in energy, health care, financial services, or immigration).

The further Right Deeds moved, the further his poll numbers collapsed. The correlation is clear, even if the Blue Dogs argue the opposite.

No more catering to moderates you say? I'm not waiting around for that pipedream.