The Invisible Republican Comeback

Jim Geraghty finds it — the party is doing rather well in special elections for state legislative seats, taking them by a two-to one margin over the Democrats in 2009. That is, if nothing else, a good barometer for voter enthusiasm. In Kentucky, where Republicans held on to a state Senate seat this week, the Democratic candidate had a longer resume and more funds — and lost handily. Not an auspicious sign in a state that was seen at the start of 2009 as one of the Democrats’ prime opportunities for a U.S. Senate seat gain.