Stay classy Erick. Leave it this flame thrower to make a remark like this about Ted Kennedy. Erickson really should be ashamed of himself. And leave it to Mr. Wingnut of the Week John Avlon to follow with the "can't we all just get along" because no one likes it that the Democrats haven't kissed enough Republican ass bullshit card and harping about deficits as to why Martha Coakley lost.

No John, she lost because they ran a bad candidate who ran a bad campaign and the Republican who acted like he really cared about getting the job ran a good one.

ROBERTS: And, Erick Erickson, let's hear from you here.

(CROSSTALK)

ROBERTS: A year ago -- let me just put this question to you or this thought to you. A year ago, the story was, Republicans were decimated. How were they ever going to come back from this? And since then we have had turnovers in New Jersey and Virginia in the governorships, a potential win here in this very important Senate district in Massachusetts.

Going forward, in 2010, if you're a Republican, how are you feeling and how do you think this is going to play out in November?

ERICKSON: Well, you know, those Republicans, they're just never competitive in New England. At least that's what we have been hearing for the past year.

Jim DeMint wanted Waterloo on health care. Massachusetts is delivering Waterloo tonight, it looks like. We don't know for sure, but, even if Scott Brown gets close, the fact that we're taking seriously that a Republican in Massachusetts is running close to the Democrat establishment candidate, frankly if I were a Democrat or a Republican establishment guy, I would be a little bit sick tonight, because Scott Brown ran against the Republican establishment and he ran against the Democratic establishment.

The national Republican Senate committee gave only $500,000, and did so without anybody -- under the radar, so they wouldn't get credit for it. Meanwhile, Jim DeMint goes out with his Senate conservative fund and pounds the table for Scott Brown. And he's going to win, it looks like.

You know, the irony here, though, is that Obama's unicorn of hope and changes is dying under Ted Kennedy, that, if Ted Kennedy had decided to resign or retire when he found out just how bad his health was, instead of wanting to be a martyr for the cause, the Democrats wouldn't be in this position.

(CROSSTALK)

AVLON: This is all about independents.

(CROSSTALK)

ROBERTS: Let Paul just make a point there about this...

(CROSSTALK)

ROBERTS: Go ahead, Paul.

BEGALA: Yes. Just let me defend Senator Kennedy's memory here from what was really a low blow.

ERICKSON: Well, look, it's true, Paul.

BEGALA: He gave every ounce of his energy until the day he died to try to represent the people of Massachusetts. And they loved him.

And if he were on the ballot today, even with the wave that Alex talks about, it would be a landslide for Ted Kennedy. Campaigns matter and candidates matter. And Teddy Kennedy would have won today. I doubt Erick would even try to argue with that point. He would win in a landslide today.

ERICKSON: Oh, I think Ted Kennedy would win.

But, you know, had Ted Kennedy gone on and resigned, instead of trying to be the person around whom everyone rallied, the Democrats would not be in the position...

(CROSSTALK)

ROBERTS: Let's let John Avlon in here...

(CROSSTALK)

AVLON: One thing independents hate is this partisan bickering back and forth, and that's in part what this is a reaction to, this old play-to-the-base politics that are trying to declare independence for a long time.

There are two things this is really about. One, independents have been deficit hawks since at least Ross Perot. And the overspending has been alienating them. The second thing is that independents don't like unified control of government. They see it leads to ideological arrogance and legislative overreach. And that's the other thing that is happening tonight.

(CROSSTALK)

ROBERTS: If we could, folks, sorry, just hold on to that point, because we have got some more breaking news. Wolf Blitzer has got some more results. We will get right back to you -- Wolf.