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Spectre of Dem Landslide Sparking GOP Civil War

Wins for Obama, Dem lawmakers could spell Republican collapse

By Matt Cantor, Newser Staff

Posted Oct 26, 2008 8:26 AM CDT

(Newser) – As polls continue to give the election edge to Barack Obama, GOP leaders are fearing the Democrat could win in a landslide, reports the Telegraph. Second-guessing of John McCain's campaign and deep fears for the GOP are already triggering a battle among Republican faithful for control of the party's future. McCain is being pressured by some to sacrifice his own fading hopes to focus on saving vulnerable Republican Senate seats.

A national Democratic landslide could spell “an ideological as well as a party victory if we're not careful,” said a former Bush speechwriter. Republicans are already deeply divided. Some argue that the GOP needs to adapt to a changing nation on the economy, health care, and the environment, infuriating others. “There's going to be a bloodbath,” warned one Republican.

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Barack Obama speaks at a rally at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque yesterday. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

John McCain pauses as he climbs into his motorcade vehicle after deplaning in Durango, Colo. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

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McCain hasn't won independents, nor has he inspired the base. It's the worst of all worlds. He is dragging everyone else down with him. He needs to deploy people and money to salvage what we can in Congress. - White House official

I don't know that there's a lot of realism in the Republican Party. We have an economic message that is largely irrelevant to most people. - David Frum, former Bush speechwriter

There's going to be a bloodbath. A lot of people are going to be excommunicated. David Brooks and David Frum and Peggy Noonan are dead people in the Republican Party. - Jim Nuzzo, aide to George HW Bush

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Spectre of Dem Landslide Sparking GOP Civil War

Wins for Obama, Dem lawmakers could spell Republican collapse

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Barack Obama • John McCain • Republican Party • landslide • congressional Democrats • Election 2008

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