The Return of the GOP Centrists

Although the Tea Party movement is a powerful force in American politics, Lou Zickar writes that centrist Republicans are actually poised to make an electoral comeback:

This rise of the tea party seems to further marginalize centrist Republicans. But to the extent that the tea party is pushing Republican candidates across the country to the right, it is also pushing many Washington Republicans to realize something they’ve overlooked in recent years: The GOP has to remain connected to the political center if it is to build an electoral majority.

By the end of this year, for example, the three biggest 2010 races for the GOP may be won by centrist Republicans.

One victory has already occurred — in Massachusetts, where centrist Scott Brown defeated liberal Martha Coakley to win the Senate seat held by Ted Kennedy since 1962.

The other two races are for the Senate seats up for grabs in Illinois and Delaware. Republicans are calling these “trophy” races. It is easy to understand why — the seats were once held by Barack Obama and Joe Biden.

In both these races, the Republican candidates are centrists.