Michael Gerson goes off message

I've repeatedly cast doubt on the idea that Barack Obama will be perceived as having a mandate when he takes office. Political science research has shown that members of Congress change their voting patterns after a perceived mandate election but that such a response only takes place when both sides agree that a mandate exists. So far, however, most Republicans and even some prominent Democrats have denied or downplayed the existence of a mandate.

Given that context, it was striking to see former Bush speechwriter Michael Gerson endorsing a "Democratic mandate" in his Washington Post column a few days ago:

During a long political season, Obama was both charming and charmed -- favored by the gods of economic catastrophe, who turned a tight election into a Democratic mandate.

Will any other Republicans join him in doing so?

Comments

[David]

A mandate for what? According to Gerson, Obama has a mandate to escalate the war in Afghanistan and for an Iran policy that will lead to the necessity of attacking that country as well.