Bayh Calls for Renewed Focus on Middle Class.
Democratic Sen. Evan Bayh of Indiana, a potential presidential contender in 2008, said on Monday the party needs to strengthen its appeal to middle-class Americans or risk defeat in the next two elections.
We may consider ourselves the party of the middle class but too many middle-class Americans no longer consider us their party," Bayh said in a speech at the National Press Club.
"They have left the Democratic Party in droves, costing us the last two presidential elections and the last six congressional elections. If we don't learn some lessons, we'll lose in 2006 and 2008 as well," said Bayh, one of about a dozen Democrats considering a presidential run.
"We have both a patriotic responsibility and a political imperative to reclaim our legacy as the party of the middle class by fighting for their interests," the former Indiana governor said before flying to Iowa, site of the traditional kickoff caucus in the White House race, to repeat his middle-class message.
