Vulnerable House Democrats Run Away From Their Party’s Record

House Democrats in tough races are running away from their party’s legislative record as they face an electorate that's skeptical of what the party has accomplished over the past two years and rates Congress at historic lows.

A Gallup tracking poll from the end of September shows that only 18 percent of voters approve of the job Congress is doing while landmark legislation like healthcare reform and the stimulus remains unpopular.

The abysmal approval numbers come against the backdrop of a Congress that is able to boast more major legislative achievements than any Congress in decades. It's a legacy House Democrats are wrestling with ahead of Election Day and, more often than not, repudiating in close contests.

"It's not everyone's cup of tea," said Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.), who is a Republican target this fall. "Moderates and Blue Dogs in our caucus have grown increasingly antsy about that agenda and whether it was or is overly ambitious."

Connolly voted in favor of healthcare reform, the stimulus and Wall Street reform, but over the past two months the Virginia Democrat has emerged as one of the loudest Democratic voices urging the leadership to extend the George W. Bush tax cuts, even for the wealthiest Americans.

Before Congress left Washington last week, Connolly was one of 39 Democrats who voted with Republicans against adjournment on the grounds the House shouldn't leave before addressing the tax-cut issue.

The ranks of Democrats running against the litany of the party’s legislative achievements has grown over the past month as those who were already trying to stake out centrist ground ahead of November have shifted even further away from their party.More