The Battle In The Democratic Party.

While the GOP's internal battle revolves around Trump and Trumpism, the conflict playing out among Democrats is between moderates and progressives and comes in two distinct forms. The first is between candidates seeking to broaden the party's appeal beyond its 'base,' and those who believe the path to victory is expanding 'base' turnout.

This was on display in Pennsylvania where the popular progressive lieutenant governor, John Fetterman, a Bernie Sanders supporter, was running against moderate congressman Conor Lamb. Fetterman's agenda matched Sanders' on most issues, except that Fetterman is not opposed to fracking, a popular Pennsylvania industry. Fetterman's persona is as compelling as his progressive politics; at 6' 8', with a shaved head, he looks more like a professional wrestler than a politician. His direct, plain-spoken approach is appealing to the very middle-class, non-college educated, white ethnic voters long ignored by Democrats. Lamb, on the other hand, looks like a congressman out of central casting-well groomed, polished, and a bit too careful. In fact, the main theme of Lamb's campaign was being 'more electable' than Fetterman.

Many establishment Democrats favoured Lamb, believing that a liberal social agenda plus courting 'the Obama coalition' (of Black, Latino, Asian, young, and educated women voters) is the path to victory. This approach has left Democrats losing elections in Midwestern states and handed white working-class voters to Republicans on a silver platter. Fetterman, on the other hand, courted that Democratic base, but expanded it by making it clear to white voters that he'd also fight for them. Fetterman decisively won the primary with more than two-thirds of the vote. In neighbouring Ohio, another Democrat, Congressman Tim Ryan, also courted working class voters and won a clear victory. Like Fetterman, Ryan made it clear that he understood their concerns about jobs and their dislocation in a changing economy. Both Fetterman and Ryan will likely face Trump-endorsed candidates in November. Their victories would not only help ensure Democratic control of the US Senate, but also demonstrate that Trump and the GOP's hold over white working-class voters is vulnerable-if Democrats pay attention to them and their needs.

The Democrats' moderate/progressive internal debate is also playing out in another, more convoluted way. While the Democratic establishment insists the...