Yes, it's that bad for the GOP

Debates inside the party highlight the real problem: What is their vision?

By Chuck Todd
Chief White House correspondent and political director
NBC News
updated 12:25 p.m. ET, Thurs., May 14, 2009

WASHINGTON - There are a number of ugly debates going on inside the Republican Party right now.

There is the debate over whether or not there is even something wrong; there’s the debate over whether or not RNC chair Michael Steele should be trusted with making financial decisions for the party; there’s the debate over whether or not the party should come up with an alternative to being just a party for conservatives; and there’s the debate over whether or not all of this is just an over-reaction.

I have no stake in this other than as a junkie who enjoys a competitive political landscape.

And that is what is sad right now for junkies: things don’t even look that competitive anymore.

Barely glimmers of hope
I have yet to find a race where Republicans seem to be on the upswing just for being Republican when the Democrat in the race is an incumbent in some form. Sure, there are some glimmers of hope for the GOP but only in places where Democrats have unique problems.

Think about it: the New Jersey governor’s race is competitive because of a disastrous Democratic situation; the Virginia governor’s race is competitive because Democrats are in a nasty primary food fight and may end up nominating their most polarizing candidate; the Illinois senate race is competitive thanks to Roland “Blagojevichâ€