The big tents are shrinking. Republicans and Democrats used to take pride in calling their respective parties "big tents" with room for a diversity of views. That tradition has ended for Republicans. It may be on its way out for Democrats as well.
Some liberals are celebrating the fact that retiring Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid of Nevada will soon be replaced by Sen. Charles Schumer of New York. That's because Nevada is a swing state.
"By choosing leaders outside the party's home turf," Ari Melber wrote for "Politico" in 2010, "Senate Democrats up the odds that their standard-bearers will be distracted by close races — caught between the politics of their constituents and the national party." Reid squeaked by in his 2010 re-election race with 50.3 percent of the vote.