Democrat Wins G.O.P. Seat; Rebuke Seen to Medicare Plan - Raymond Hernandez

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/25/nyregion/democrat-capture-house-seat-in-special-election.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss

Voters, who turned out in strikingly large numbers for a special election, said they trusted Ms. Hochul, the county clerk of Erie County, to protect Medicare.
“I have almost always voted the party line,” said Gloria Bolender, a Republican from Clarence who is caring for her 80-year-old mother. “This is the second time in my life I’ve voted against my party.”
Pat Gillick, a Republican from East Amherst, who also cast a ballot for Ms. Hochul, said, “The privatization of Medicare scares me.”

There is a small but vocal constituency in the Republican party that is pushing Paul Ryan to run for president. I don't want to read too much into this special election, but the writing is on the wall. Paul Ryan as a presidential candidate or even a VP candidate would be electoral poison. He is wonkish enough for me to like him as a person, and I even like portions of his plan, but this is one of those things that ain't going to play in Peoria.