Democrats Trying to Scare Their Own Base

Why would Robert Gibbs declare, on national TV, that there was “no doubt” the Democrats could lose the House in November? To scare the crap out of Democrats, writes Rick Klein for ABC News. First off, he is right, and everyone knows it: 79 House seats are up for grabs, all but 12 of them currently held by Democrats. The GOP needs a net gain of 39 to take control, a real possibility.

Democrats are also intent on pushing hot-button issues like immigration and energy reform, which won’t help vulnerable moderates in the South and West. So there’s real danger for the White House here, and it wants the base to understand it—and respond with more money and better organization. “Running scared,” Klein reasons, “is better than running in place for Democrats.” (More Robert Gibbs stories.)