Hmmm.
Rep. Chris Van Hollen, who chairs the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, said at a news conference Wednesday he has personally talked with certain individuals from liberal organizations who have begun raising money to finance challenges to centrist Democrats. He warned the efforts threatened to split the party and allow Republicans to pick up seats.
The Maryland congressman is trying to defuse heady expectations in his party for more gains in next year’s midterm elections. He spoke after too-close-to-call results in this week’s election for a vacant Democratic seat in New York.
The fact that House Democrats don’t like the pressure on the Blue Dogs isn’t surprising, but the fact that Van Hollen felt the need to call up liberal groups and say, “lay off, will ya?” is.