Bayh isn't THAT moderate. We're not talking about a Breaux or Nelson here... he would lose Kentucky by 15, Virginia, Arkansas, Missouri, Arizona handily, and probably Colorado.
And, actually, I think Bayh would lose a lot more than that-- he's very dull, got to where he is because of his name (not that that stopped W. but he has more personality). He's a potential landslide victim in the making.
True Bayh has benefited in Indiana from being Birch Bayh's son but do you really think he could win landslide elections in Indiana if he was anything other than a political moderate because it seems that Indiana just doesn't elect liberals, like Birch, any more
He's the potential candidate that Republicans are scarred of. His success is partly down to being a guy who can cross-cut very effectively along both partisan and ideological lines. He might lack charisma but he'll be a safe pair of hands and isn't weak on national security, which is a charge that the GOP can level at many Democrats to their peril. I dare say there have been more US Presidents without charisma than with it and I, for one, don't see any of it in any great abundance in GWB
Dave
