GOP Memo Warns of House Rout

A memo passed around to House Republicans describes a looming catastrophe for the caucus in November, reports Politico. Written by a GOP consultant, the document describes as many as 58 Republican-held seats at risk, with 11 already written off and 34 in serious danger. Just a handful of Democratic seats are described as possible pick-ups for the Republicans.

Even Republican seats in rural and exurban strongholds are teetering. While a large number of seats opened up by retirement are goners, the party also is giving up hope on large numbers of once-safe incumbents. Among the political walking-dead seem to be Minnesota’s Michele Bachmann and Colorado’s Marilyn Musgrave, two tribunes of social conservatism. Don Young, Alaska’s sole representative, also is on his way out under an ethical cloud.
(More Election 2008 stories.)