WaEx: "Down in the polls, Dems at war with themselves"

Michael Barone analyzes the current political climate in the Democrat camp in today's Washington Examiner ... and he's finding things aren't so cozy on the left side of the aisle:

... the real civil war this year is going on in the Democratic Party -- and it is going largely unreported.

The intraparty civil war is happening within Democrat circles everywhere with primaries occurring in Pennsylvania, Arkansas, Missoui, Oklahoma, and Hawaii. Democrats, surveying the damage from the big-spending, over-reaching Obama White House, are trying to figure out how to correct the misguidedness of their Party. Mr. Barone says it well in his opinion column.

Democrat Evan Bayh to retire

James at the liberal Swing State Project blog, had this to say about the announcement that Evan Bayh (D-IN) planned to retire:

What a weiner ... Bayh needs to fork over all $13 million of his war chest over to the DSCC, stat.

Charlie Cook has updated it Indiana to "leans Republican."

H/T to Dave

CNN: "Angry Clinton supporters toast McCain, roast Obama"

Party unity seems to be lacking all around these days ... and nowhere is it more evident than with the Hillary Clinton supporters who are not happy that she was not even considered for the vice presidential spot on the Democratic ticket.

As reported by CNN.com:

The last place Kathy Archuleta could have ever imagined she'd spend the first night of the Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado, was at a happy hour sponsored by the Republican Party.

But the 54-year-old Democrat joined several other Hillary Clinton supporters, along with volunteers and officials from John McCain's campaign, at a Happy Hour for Hillary.

The event, sponsored by the Republican National Committee and approved by the McCain campaign, was a chance for McCain and Clinton supporters to come together for one cause: their opposition to Barack Obama's candidacy.

Recent polling data backs up that Barack Obama is not gaining ground during his convention. In fact, he has received a negative bounce since announcing Joe Biden as his running mate. CNN concluded:

As the convention heats up and tensions remain high over how to make sure Clinton's 18 million or so votes are counted, supporters will rally by her side, even if their pick in November is her enemy.

Her enemy? There is a reason politics is called a blood sport.

PUMA to show up at Dem Convention?

PUMA, an acronym for "Party Unity My Ass" which consists of disgruntled Hillary Clinton supporters, is reportedly going to rear its head at the Democratic Convention in Denver.

Plans are under way from those supporters, according to the Associated Press:

One group intends to paper the city with fliers, promote a video detailing what they contend were irregularities in the nominating process and unleash bloggers to give their take on the proceedings. Another group has purchased newspaper advertisements demanding that Clinton be included in a roll-call vote for the nomination.

With the Hillary supporters demanding attention, and the protesters planning to "Remake '68" or whatever they are calling it, we could be in for an interesting Democrat convention. Read more here.

My laugh of the day....

From Ben Tribbett's "Not Larry Sabato" blog....

Barack Obama is in Union, Missouri - very close to Kaine's hometown.

Kaine cancelled an appearance in Baltimore tonight with no reason given.

DON'T DO IT BARACK

NLS was for Hillary before she lost out to Obama. There is disunity on both sides of the aisle, and Tim Kaine has certainly caught his fair share of flack from NLS and RK. This is further proof....

Thanks for the laugh, Ben.