WASHINGTON - Already-skittish Democrats in Congress got fresh reasons to worry about their votes on economic and health care legislation from the election results in Virginia and New Jersey.
Democrats from the left, right and center saw a warning in Tuesday's results, which saw independents -- who had backed Democrats in the 2006 congressional elections and President Obama last year -- switch their votes to help elect Republican governors in both states.
Democrats from swing states feel new pressure not to be perceived as too liberal. That may impede Democratic leaders' efforts to pass a sweeping health care overhaul, especially one that includes a government-run insurance plan, or climate change legislation.
"The House leadership needs to pay attention to what happened in Virginia," said Rep. Gene Taylor, D-Miss., one of 52 conservative Democrats, or Blue Dogs, in the House of Representatives.
| Movie Finder |
Last year, swing voters helped Democrats to their biggest congressional majorities since the mid-1990s. Once Tuesday's two House winners are sworn in, Democrats will have 258 House members and control 60 of the 100 Senate seats. Next year, all 435 House seats will be contested, as well as 36 Senate seats, 18 now held by each party.
Tuesday's elections "will probably cause pause for some people," said Rep. Michael Michaud, D-Maine, a Blue Dog.
Some moderate Democratic senators voiced similar thoughts, saying that the public's perception is often that Washington is too unresponsive to voters and too eager to increase the size and cost of government.
"The American people get it. They know we're on an unsustainable fiscal course," said Sen. Kent Conrad, D-N.D.