The anti-Washington mood in the country has Washington on edge, as two moderate Democrats’ jobs were on the line Tuesday, with one of them losing his, Sen. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania.

Most veteran Democratic strategists agree that the Senate race in the Keystone state now will be much harder for Democrats with the Cong. Joe Sestak running against conservative Republican Pat Toomey, but either man will be new to the Senate. Each will start with no seniority.

Specter, in the Senate for more than 30 years, had gained a seat on the powerful Appropriations Committee, known for members bringing home the bacon.

And more particularly, Specter’s senior status on the Labor, Health and Human Services subcommittee of the Appropriations Committee will mean major changes for the health community (remember – Specter is a two-time non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma survivor), in particular the National Institutes of Health, a beneficiary of billions in targeted funding from Specter’s efforts along with the senior Dem on that committee, Sen. Tom Harkin, D-IA...