NRCC Election HQ — The Republicans gathered at this downtown Washington hotel are starting to feel good about tonight. And nothing so far made them feel better than taking out Reps. Alan Grayson (D-FL) and Tom Perriello (D-VA).
The pair were top targets for the Republicans, just as they were national mascots of sorts for progressives across the country. And when Rep. Greg Walden (R-OR) announced to the still relatively thin crowd here tonight that the pair had been defeated, a mighty cheer rang out.
Periello’s Fifth District seat got a visit from President Obama on Friday, a fact that was not lost on the crowds here. “Sorry,” Walden joked, to laughter from the crowd.
RNC Chair Michael Steele also took the stage — he and Walden are the first of many speakers expected to culminate with House Minority Leader John Boehner — and did his best to pump up the already excited crowd even further. Steele said things look very good for the GOP on the House side, and he said they had their grassroots to thank.
“To our grassroots who got up early and knocked on doors late, we thank you,” Steele said. “Thank you for helping us to pull this elephant, if you will, across the finish line. To turn the elephant to face the future.”
Evan McMorris-Santoro
Evan McMorris-Santoro has covered politics for TPM since 2009. Before that, he was a reporter at National Journal’s Hotline covering election 2008. He started his career covering local politics at newspapers in TN and his native NC.
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