Fresh from the disappointing Nov. 5 election results, House Democrats elected a new leadership team late last week. As expected, Rep. Nancy Pelosi of CA won the Leader position, brushing aside a late, brave uprising by Rep. Harold Ford of TN. Rep. Steny Hoyer of MD was unanimously elected Whip. In a barnburner, Rep. Bob Menendez of NJ edged Rep. Rosa DeLauro of CT for chairmanship of the Caucus. And Rep. James Clyburn of SC was elected deputy chairman over Reps. Gregory Meeks of NY and Zoe Lofgren of CA.

The ideology and background of House leaders is important, but less important than their understanding of how they fit into the overall political scheme as a presidential election cycle cranks up. A majority of House members from both parties come from relatively safe districts that are unrepresentative of the country as a whole. That makes it hard for them -- and for their leaders -- to define an agenda and a message that is effective in a national campaign.

The new Democratic team has the smarts and the experience to understand this context. And in fact, bending to the centrist impulses of the national electorate isn't just important in presidential elections; it is also critical in the dwindling number of swing districts that hold the key for any hopes of Democrats retaking Congress this decade. A sharp turn to the left would likely doom Democrats in contests for control of both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue.

Responding to the early efforts of Republicans and the news media to typecast her as a "San Francisco liberal," Pelosi has made a point of acknowledging that her own views (and those of other Members from safe Democratic districts) are not necessarily the compass for the caucus, much less the party as a whole. In one important symbolic gesture, she immediately announced that Rep. John Spratt of SC would serve as Assistant Leader. Spratt is not only a member of the New Democrat Coalition and the Blue Dogs, he is also the ranking member on the Budget Committee and a senior member of the Armed Services Committee. Spratt is very well equipped to remind Pelosi of the persistent weakness of Congressional Democrats on issues of national defense and managing the federal budget.

Hoyer's unanimous election as Whip reflects the high esteem he has earned across the party spectrum. New Democrats should recall that Hoyer was one of the midwives at the birth of the DLC, and served as an unofficial emissary between House leadership circles and DLC members for a very long time. Like Spratt, Hoyer is another House Democrat who understands national security issues and their political power.

In Menendez, the Democratic Caucus will enjoy the leadership of an exceptionally hard-working member who made a special effort to reach out to New Democrats during the campaign for the Caucus chairmanship. Menendez has also played an important role in advising New Democrats on their own outreach efforts to Hispanic Americans.

Clyburn's election as Vice Chair of the Caucus over two New Democrats was a bit of an upset, but as former chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, Clyburn already had considerable visibility in the House and also offers some regional balance in the leadership team.

In truth, just as many observers have probably read too much into the midterm election results, they are also reading too much into the House leadership election results because of their timing. Pelosi's election as Leader, for example, was not some sort of referendum on the future of the Democratic Party after a disappointing election; it was pre-ordained months ago when she won the contest to succeed David Bonior as Whip. The House Caucus is -- and will continue to be so long as redistricting methods remain as they are -- many notches to the Left of other national groups of Democratic elected officials, and it is less likely to understand how to deal with issues that affect swing voters' perceptions of Democrats. With national politics now focused on the 2004 presidential contest, the Democratic presidential candidates, and ultimately, the Party's presidential nominee, will define the national Democratic message. The most important measure of the new House Democratic leadership team will be how well they understand, and respond, to these circumstances. In guiding the House Caucus, they should heed the "No Left Turn" signs just ahead.