Dave Ross Commentary – Listen: Is the Tea Party Dead?

New York’s 26th congressional district comprises the conservative suburbs of Rochester and Buffalo, and lately it’s been solidly Republican. Last year it gave Republican Congressman Chris Lee 73 percent of the vote!

And then — a month after taking his oath, Rep Lee sent a shirtless picture of himself to a woman not his wife – and he was toast.

That set up a 3-way Congressional election to replace him, and on Tuesday that race went … to a Democrat: Kathy Hochul. Who looked like she was going to lose, until she ran this ad pointing out that her Republican opponent Jane Corwin supported the Tea-Party inspired Republican budget plan:

Republican Corwin tried to fight back, labeling Democrat Hochul a tax and spender:

But it didn’t work. When the results came in, Hochuls supporters chanted Medicare Medicare — which under the Republican plan, would be become a voucher system for Americans under 55.

Voters in that corner of NY seem to be saying there’s only thing conservatives hate more than the ridiculously high federal debt — and that’s the consequences of actually cutting it.

Which has Republicans over in the House, all but four of whom voted for that very plan… wondering what awaits THEM on election day.

Well guys, hey, a lot can change between now and November 2012, so relax. Keep your shirts on.

Subscribe to The Dave Ross Commentary podcast