The GOP's Bad Brand

On a conference call just now, Oklahoma Rep. Tom Cole, who runs the NRCC, was asked to diagnose the grim situation of the Republican Party in the wake of a third special election loss, this time in the 1st District of Mississippi. His answer:

You have to get beyond campaign tactics and take a long hard look: Is there something wrong with your product? . . . What we have now is a deficiency in our message and a loss of confidence from the American people that we will do what we say.

Update: I have a quick Time.com story up on the Mississippi race here.