Southern Exposure

The GOP can talk about competing in the NE and West. But if they really want to have a solid '10 cycle, it needs to hit a homerun in its base, the South.

-- The party got some solid news today when Montgomery city Councilor Martha Roby (R) said she'd challenge Rep. Bobby Bright (D-AL 02). She's already drawn praise from some GOPers, who are high on her chances of taking down the freshman Blue Dog.

-- But there may be a problem brewing in GA-12, where surgeon/ret. Army Lt. Col. Wayne Mosley (R), another highly touted recruit, was always going to face an uphill battle against Rep. John Barrow (D). That's because ex-Thunderbolt councilor Carl Smith (R) wants to challenge Mosley, and it looks like he's got some establishment support, too.

-- GOPers need not look further than the messy '08 AL-02 primary to see how a disastrous primary can ruin hopes of capturing a seat that's ripe for the taking. In that race, a vitriolic primary between state Rep. Jay Love (R) and state Sen. Harri Anne Smith (R) caused many voters in Smith's base to turn away from Love in the general.

-- NRCC Chair Pete Sessions (TX-32) has promised to step into primaries if he believes his party's interests are at stake. With the lessons learned in AL-02, will that happen in GA-12?