Indiana GOP candidates for U.S. House unanimously pledge to repeal health reform

If you're harboring doubts about the grouchy electorate, the unpopularity of health care reform and the rising power of the Tea Party, consider the press release issued yesterday by the Indiana Patriot Coalition, an organization of Tea Party types and “liberty groups.”

All nine Republicans running for the U.S. House have signed pledges to repeal reform, the coalition trumpted. (The individual campaigns confirm they’ve signed the coalition’s pledge or have stated publicly a commitment to repeal.)

As would be expected, the four incumbent Democrats—all of whom voted for reform—haven’t signed the pledges. Another, Brad Ellsworth, voted for reform but is leaving his seat to run for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Evan Bayh.

The pledge goes beyond promising to vote for repeal to calling for sponsoring or co-sponsoring repeal legislation.

How many of the candidates would have signed without pressure from activists is a good question. How many take the pledge seriously is another.

Nevertheless, the unanimous support communicates something. What is it? Do you have any other thoughts?