"There Is A Strong Populist Tinge To This Class"

Today's New York Times captures the spirit that animated many swing voters who went to the polls on Tuesday. Economic populism is back in fashion.

On Thursday, I attended a forum where I was able to watch a series of campaign commercials ran by candidates who ousted Republican incumbents in closely contested districts. Over and over, the newly elected Democrats pledged to do something about health care by curbing the power of the drug and insurance companies.

In stressing the centrist credentials of many winners, the media has ignored this aspect of the electoral earthquake. Just 44 percent of the electorate heard about health care during the election, according to Democratic pollster Celinda Lake. But that shouldn't be surprising. In most of the country, House races were not contested, no ads ran, and the press, both national and local, ignored health care as an issue.

But in swing districts, 62 percent of voters heard about health care because the Democratic candidates made it a major point in all of their ads. "It was a powerful issue," Lake said.

These incoming freshmen may have a major say in how the health care debate shapes up over the coming years.