Democrats and their allies in the media truely fear the Tea Party. The US credit downgrade is going to intensify that fear. We have gotten into their heads.
I'm sure you're right. FWIW, I also think that slogan that's popping up... "if you voted for Obama in 2008 to show you're not a racist, please vote for someone else in 2012 to show you're not an idiot" is having an effect as well.