Republican moderates express dissatisfaction

THE WASHINGTON POST
WASHINGTON -- Earlier this fall, when former Supreme Court nominee Harriet Miers was still the one making courtesy calls on Capitol Hill, it was Republican conservatives whose outspoken discontent was drawing attention.
Now, with a conservative gubernatorial candidate defeated in red-state Virginia and GOP centrists getting stubborn in the House and Senate, it's moderates who are getting their chance to gripe.
If the party's rank-and-file voters are any indication, it's moderates who by far are the grumpier group.
In an August Washington Post-ABC News poll, a solid 85 percent of GOP moderates approved of the job George W. Bush was doing as president, including 60 percent who "strongly approved." By early November, overall support had dropped 24 points among moderates, and only 30 percent remained strong backers. In contrast, overall support among Republican conservatives has held steady.
It's not just Bush who is getting lackluster reviews. While 74 percent of conservatives say Republicans in Congress are doing a good job, backing falls to 54 percent among GOP moderates, down 22 points from early summer. About one-third of moderates say their party's leadership is taking them in the wrong direction.