A switch in time

Rep. Parker Griffith, an Alabama Democrat, is switching parties. Griffith is a medical doctor, so Obamacare provides him with a good explanation — beyond mere opportunism — for why he’s switching now.
The conversion of an Alabama politician to the Republican party may not seem terribly significant and standing alone it isn’t. However, it’s worth noting that Griffith’s district (in Northern Alabama, TVA country) is a solidly Democratic one. Indeed, according to Ben Smith of Politico, it hasn’t been held by a Republican since 1866, the early days of Reconstruction.
When viewed together with resignations by Blue Dog Democrats in the House, Griffith’s switch suggests that the Dems’ hold on House seats in Reddish jurisdictions is quite tenuous. The same is true, one suspects, of some Senate seats.