Like him or not, Trump is now a member of the Republican family

The aftermath of the special election in Georgia's 6th congressional district has been predictably brutal. Critical reviews from the progressive hinterlands have littered social media after yet another Trump-era special election defeat for the Democrats.

The ferocity of the criticism speaks to partisan frustration; this district was supposed to be chock-full of suburban Republicans just itching for an opportunity to register their disdain for Trump. But the depth of "Trump trauma" was far less than advertised; a late Trump endorsement may have even helped newly-elected Rep. Karen Handel, R-Ga.

For the Democrats, two problematic narratives have emerged:

1. What if the Russian hacking / Trump story continues to go south?; and
2. What if a more moderate message is not a winning message in suburban swing districts?