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.

Notice: All comments are subject to moderation. Our comments are intended to be a forum for civil discourse bearing on the subject under discussion. Commenters who stray beyond the bounds of civility or employ what we deem gratuitous vulgarity in a comment — including, but not limited to, “s***,” “f***,” “a*******,” or one of their many variants — will be banned without further notice in the sole discretion of the site moderator.

Responses