The fat lady isn’t singing — yet

It’s more than a little disconcerting that some (not all) Republicans seem to be
employing a strategy to try to run out the clock for the next month on the campaign
trail. The final stretch needs to be a sprint — not a victory lap.

Yes, the polls have been looking excellent for the GOP. But every political consultant
and analyst has known the gap (that much-ballyhooed “enthusiasm gap”)
would start closing as Election Day neared, and it appears to be the case this year
in many races. Gallup shows Republicans have an edge in the generic ballot, 46
percent to 42, over Democrats. Since Democrats have figured out that they are well
behind with likely voters, they know they need to get out there and create new likely
voters from the voter pool from 2008. That is why the campaign ads and rhetoric
are starting to become more divisive, partisan and negative.
 
But some Republicans seem to have embarked prematurely on a weeks-long victory celebration.
Bloggers, TV and radio commentators and others in the media seem too certain, and
even too cocky, about a GOP November victory. They seem to be forgetting what got
us to this point to begin with. It was activists, bloggers and commentators talking,
explaining, protesting, educating, writing, for at least 18 months, about the dangers
and pitfalls of ObamaCare, the bloated stimulus spending and bailouts and the importance
of maintaining a strong and respected image globally. That sort of conversation
seems to be giving way to an overconfident sense of fait accompli.
 
Republicans are doing great, but they need to work harder than ever for the next
month and understand that while the fat lady may be warming up, she isn’t singing
just yet.