Can the NRA save Boyd?

I admit, it would be funny if we end up owing this Panhandle seat to the National Rifle Association. But gun control happens to be one of those issues I have never felt so concerned about. I felt their basic message in the past (Guns don't kill people, people kill people) had some sense to it. Some time ago, unfortunately, the NRA went well beyond gun control and started opposing murder control.

Still, the group understands the importance of keeping ties with Congressmen on both sides of the aisle, and they have endorsed Allen Boyd in Florida's 2nd. This is great news on its own, and as a bonus, the wingers at RedState are going crazy.

I realize a lot of progressives have never been excited about Boyd. Indeed, some prominent sites including FLAPolitics, where I often post diaries, publicly backed Al Lawson during the very close primary this year. I am sure Blue Dog positions such as Boyd's views on gun control played a big role.

But I always felt Boyd was the right candidate for this race. Like it or not, there are Congressional districts in this nation where liberal Democrats just can't win. It sounds cliche, but we still need a big tent. We shouldn't let Naderites or whatever the next left-wing version of the Tea Party turns out to be encourage us to throw out the Boyds with the bathwater.

Boyd isn't with us on tax cuts, but he eventually supported ObamaCare. He likes PAYGO, but also Cap-and-Trade. I wish he was stronger on responsible financial policy instead of holding so many pro-corporate positions, but he is much better than a Ben Nelson. And he is certainly better than Steve Southerland.

Polls right now show Boyd trailing the inexperienced gravedigger challenging his on behalf of the GOTea. I have trouble buying that Southerland is 16 ahead, but then I underestimated Lawson as well. Regardless, this is a tough race, and one where Democrats can't cower away because the candidate isn't with us 100 percent of the time.

The fact is, Boyd has supposedly been in trouble before, but always closed strong. He can win this race, and his support among conservative groups like the NRA could make a big difference. Politics makes strange bedfellows, and we shouldn't kick Boyd out of bed for eating some pro-gun cookies.