20th race offers first opening for GOP in Northeast

Republicans were largely shooed out of the Northeast over the last two election cycles, but the GOP is hoping that Democratic missteps — and the departure of George W. Bush — will give rise to a renaissance.

Next week’s House vote in the 20th district will offer a first measure of just how viable those hopes are.

Republicans are also marshaling their forces to challenge the Dems in New York (US Senate and gubernaborial races next year), Connecticut (Sen. Chris Dodd looks vulnerable) and New Jersey (Governor Jon Corzine’s poll numbers are sagging.)

Here’s Politico’s take on the return of the Party of Lincoln…

“To predict there is now a groundswell of support for Republicans is a little pretentious,” said former Rep. Charlie Bass (R-N.H.), who lost a reelection bid in 2006. “But clearly the traditional voter in the Northeast is looking more closely at Republicans with Bush and the war in Iraq not on the front burner anymore.”