It may not be a surprise that Republican Congressmen Duncan Hunter and Brain Bilbray are downplaying Nathan Fletcher’s defection from the GOP. Fletcher said he decided to run for San Diego Mayor as an independent because the Republican Party has become too partisan. He’s been held up on several national media outlets as a possible sign of things to come if the GOP doesn’t become more moderate. But Hunter said the party does have a moderate wing.
“And I would argue that there’s more moderates, at the federal level in Congress in the House of Representatives, there’s more moderates and liberal Republicans than there are moderate or conservative Democrats right now,” Hunter said.
Bilbray said he’s an example of a moderate Republican.
“There’s room for moderates on both sides. In fact I think this is the up and coming thing. And I think that Democrats and Republicans don’t have to abandon their party or their standards and still can work with people across the board,” he said.
Some have criticized Fletcher’s move, pointing out he only left the GOP after failing to win the local party’s endorsement. But Fletcher said he never expected to get the nod and said he’s received a positive reaction from the public about his decision.
