I wrote yesterday that the government shutdown backfired for Newt Gingrich and Republicans in 1995; in the end, it helped Bill Clinton win his re-election race. If this new National Journal poll of party insiders is any indication, today's GOP insiders are worried that history will repeat itself:
Tea Party Republicans might be eager to stage a government shutdown, but their elite benefactors are wary of the prospect: Only 65 percent of Republicans polled say that a shutdown would be in the party's interest. Of course, this isn't comprehensive -- and shouldn't be taken as representative of all party elites -- but I think it says something that a significant chunk of Republicans aren't on board with a replay of 1995. That said, it remains to be seen if this actually means anything in practice.
