Backlash Building?: As President Bush continues to suffer low poll numbers and Majority Leader Reid's approval numbers plummet, public supporters of the current Senate "grand compromise" are suffering various public challenges. One of the most outspoken proponents of the Senate bill, Lindsey Graham (R-SC), now faces--at least online--forces mobilizing against him. Support for RNC Chairman (and Senator) Mel Martinez of Florida also falls to all-time low (driven in part by public distrust of the Senate bill). Senator Chuck Hagel (R-NE), a persistent advocate for "comprehensive reform" (usually including legalization of the undocumented) and one of the few Republicans to vote in favor of cloture this week, faces a primary challenger, who, at the moment, seems to be leading Hagel in a poll of likely Nebraska Republican voters. Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (KY), who (though he voted against cloture this week) seems to remain ultimately supportive of passing some variant of this "grand compromise," also faces calls for a primary challenge. One prominent "conservative" website has even proposed trying to oust McConnell from his position of Minority Leader. Graham, Hagel, and McConnell are all up for re-election in 2008.
(H/T Mickey Kaus and Michelle Malkin)