Much alike, both talking in circles, voices flat, Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries landed in a fight but not with a Republican – holding rallies Bernie Saunders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez set out to break Washington insiders’ iron grip on the Democratic Party.

Fingers crossed Republicans – not Republican voters but the Republicans who go to county party meetings, join Republican clubs to socialize, parade down aisles at conventions waving signs – hope Saunders and Ocasio-Cortez defrock Schumer and Jeffries. Crush them. They’re sure a liberal Democrat will be easier for J. D. Vance to beat in the next presidential election.

But ask yourself: Does history say that?

Consider a fact Republican party leaders don’t like to face: Donald Trump has never been popular. But beat Hillary and Kamala Harris. Both Washington politicians.

So who’s J. D. Vance more likely to beat?

Another Washington politician? Or an outsider?