WASHINGTON — The Republican defeat in a special Congressional contest in Mississippi sent waves of apprehension across an already troubled party Wednesday, with some senior Republicans urging Congressional candidates to distance themselves from President Bush to head off what could be heavy losses in the fall.
They've wrapped themselves around Bush for so long that it's kind of hard to sever the link. And Huggy Bear won't let them wrap themselves around him.
But Mr. McCain’s advisers said the Mississippi race underlined his intention to distance himself as much as possible from Congressional Republicans. Mr. McCain has already been openly critical of some of President Bush’s strategies.
The level of distress was evident in remarks by senior party officials throughout the day.
Republicans are getting to the point where Democrats were for so long. They've lost their brand, and they won't be able to get it back as long as they're all running against the party and each other.
But for this election at least, they're still Bush's party.