Tipping Point?

How forgiving will the voters be in 2006 regarding Bush Administration missteps? It's dangerous to provoke voters - witness how California Governor Gray Davis generated a massive backlash in 2003 with the 2001 electricity debacle and his ham-handed interference in the 2002 Republican gubernatorial primary. Voters can lunge for the pitchforks at times. Rhode Island's Republican Governor is a little more optimistic this year, though:

The Medicare program left several governors shaking their heads, though they said efforts to improve it were helping. "Probably the design of the plan could've been better," said Republican Don Carcieri of Rhode Island. Bush has called for steps to limit the confusion. Still, Carcieri was sure voters would forgive, both on the drugs and on the hurricane response. "They're more understanding of that kind of thing. They understand they're only human."

Well, in 2003, fickle California voters changed their minds and decided Gray Davis was an alien from Mars, with thin green blood. What will happen, this year, to Republican candidates?