Check out a great article this morning in the Washington Post. It seems that the Republicans woes are manifesting themselves in the great northeastern United States- a region of the country that is mostly blue but holds a number of important seats for Republicans.

From the WaPo:

Before the 1994 elections, when Republicans won control of the House for the first time in 40 years, Democrats held dozens of Southern districts in which the electorate had been gradually growing more conservative. That year, Republicans picked up 20 of those Southern seats, including several held by Democratic incumbents who — like Northeast Republicans today — tried to distance themselves from an unpopular White House and Congress controlled by their party.

Many of those Southern seats are afterthoughts in elections today because the districts are so solidly Republican. Simmons, who plays up his connections to organized labor, a traditionally Democratic interest, said a similar purge of Northeast Republicans would only exacerbate the polarized Washington environment. “For every one of us [moderates] who loses, the Congress becomes more partisan,” he said.

GOP moderates have long felt marginalized by the conservative-dominated House Republican Conference. Late last year, however, Republican leaders realized they needed to soften some of their proposals or risk losing Northeastern seats. They reluctantly added money to the 2006 budget for job training and other programs pushed by the most liberal Republicans in Congress. They held a vote to expand stem cell research, a popular idea among moderates that was vetoed by Bush.

As you can see, this article focuses primarily on the PA-6 race between Democrat Lois Murphy and Republican Jim Gerlach. This is going to be an absolutely critical race for both parties in 2006. DoubleSpeak will have Ms. Murphy on the program in the coming weeks…

Well predictably, the smears against Lois Murphy and “liberal” MoveOn have began in full force in the Pennsylvania 6th Congressional District race. Republicans just love to bring up Hitler in their hate mail.

Jim Gerlach is a bum and a toady for Bush and his Rubber Stamp Congress. Let’s put Lois in his place.

I understand attacks, but this vicious attack on Lois Murphy has got to be the most unoriginal smear I’ve seen. If you’re going on the attack Gerlach, why don’t you try some lines that are less cliché?

“Former lobbyist and political insider Lois Murphy is a far-left, Howard Dean Democrat and it’s the liberal left-wing of the Democratic Party that controls its primaries.”

-Representative Jim Gerlach, (PA-6)

P.S. To former candidate for Gerlach’s seat Mike Leibowitz, DoubleSpeak wants to say keep fighting the good fight and see you in the district.

Yesterday was primary election day in Pennsylvania, featuring several highly contested races and some wonderful and revealing results.

• Bob Casey Jr. and Radical Rick Santorum both won their primaries handily. Santorum was unopposed while progressive (and pro-choice) Dems Alan Sandals and Chuck Pennachio garnered only 7% and 8% respectively. Time to actually campaign Bob.
• Lois Murphy, who nearly beat Bush/DeLay pocket congressman Jim Gerlach in 2004, won the primary for the Pennsylvania 6th Congressional seat. Lois is one of DoubleSpeak’s favorite candidates and could definitely use your help. Also a winner was Iraq war vet Patrick Murphy in PA-08.
• Finally, the commonwealth’s top two Republican State Senators, Senate President Pro Tempore Robert C. Jubelirer and Majority Leader David J. Brightbill (R., Lebanon) both lost their primaries. Nearly a dozen other incumbents seem poised to lose their bids signaling massive discontent in PA with both Republicans and the incumbent Republican Senate.

There was also a great win by Democrat Andrew Dinniman in a 53% R/30% D/17% I state senate district. A good day, despite the loss of netroots faves Anne Dicker and Chuck Pennachio. But regardless, a banner day for Democrats and Pennsylvanians.

The Washington Post’s blog “The Fix” highlights 10 competitive House races to watch in 2006. Among the most interesting races to watch this year are PA-6 as Lois Murphy (D) takes on Jim Gerlach (R), OH-18 where Bob Ney (R) refuses to relinquish his tarnished seat, and TX-22 where Nick Lampson tries to take down Tom “The Hammer” Delay.