Vulnerable Dems Seek to Run as Republicans Lite

If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em. That’s the motto of many vulnerable Democrats in Congress, who are shifting their policy stances closer to those of Republicans, trying to move away from their own party’s lack of popularity, Politico reports.

In a television ad, West Virginia Democratic senate candidate Joe Manchin (pictured), literally blasts a gun at a facsimile of the cap and trade energy bill and promises to help repeal "the bad parts of Obamacare."

And Alabama Rep. Bobby Bright notes in a TV commercial that he votes with House Minority Leader John Boehner 80 percent of the time. Bright also pledges to vote against giving Nancy Pelosi another term as House Speaker.

But Tevi Troy, visiting senior fellow at the Hudson Institute, says Democrats may not be truly changing their colors. “Vulnerable Democrats may claim to be conservative on some issues in order to get reelected, but the claims lack meaning if they start the session by voting to make Nancy Pelosi speaker again,” he said.