The Shutdown: Helping Dems?

Congressional gridlock over the government shutdown could mean big gains for Democrats in 2014. That’s according to Rep. Steve Israel, D-Huntington, who, according to a Washington Post blog, said:

“After witnessing this reckless and irresponsible behavior, the environment has now become so toxic that these recruits now want to reopen the conversation about running. This shutdown is showing what we’ve seen from the beginning — that Republicans’ disconnect from reality is our single greatest recruiting tool.”

However, on the New Republic’s website, Nate Cohen, disagrees.

“There’s a case that Democrats are doing better than 2012, but they’re not on-track to make the most of the potentially competitive districts.”

But Israel remains confident, citing a recent Quinnipiac poll, which said American voters oppose 72 - 22 percent Congress shutting down the federal government to block implementation of the Affordable Care Act. That same poll showed that Democrats ahead by 9 points in the 2014 Congressional race.