Wall Street Journal editorial:  The Romney Democrats: A Bipartisan Coalition Backs Mitt's Tax Policy in the House:

You wouldn't know it from the lack of media coverage, but the House of Representatives voted to block a tax increase on Wednesday with a big bipartisan majority. No fewer than 19 Democrats broke with Nancy Pelosi and voted with Republicans to extend the current rates on all taxpayers for another year.

The bill passed 256-171, despite heavy White House pressure on the Democratic back-benchers to toe the party line. Republicans lost only one Member, who as it happens is leaving Congress this year. Could it be that growth trumps envy on tax policy? Just asking.

At least a dozen of what we'll call the Romney 19 come from competitive districts. That includes Larry Kissel and Mike McIntyre of North Carolina, Tim Bishop of New York, Ben Chandler of Kentucky, Jim Matheson in Utah, and Collin Peterson and Tim Walz of Minnesota. This was a vote for political survival for most of them. … By the way, the 19 don't generally represent affluent districts. Democrats from wealthy areas like Manhattan, Marin County or Greenwich are all for soaking the rich. Most of the Romney 19 are from middle-class suburbs or rural areas. …

None of this is likely to deter President Obama from his class-warfare rounds, since he's staked his re-election on it. But the large defection ought to reassure Republicans, and Mitt Romney, that their tax argument stressing growth and reform has political appeal, in addition to its policy merits.