Plouffe emphasized the “intolerance” and “extremism” of the tea party and right wing of Republican party as both a short-term and long-term electoral problem for the moderate GOP, citing their attacks even on conservative senators such as Tom Coburn of Oklahoma as an example of how narrowly they have tailored their messaging and base.

“Right now — and this is a problem for them — I do think Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck, Sarah Palin, they are the leaders of the party,” Plouffe said on “NBC’s “Meet the Press.” “There is an intolerance in that party and an extremism, that I think is where the real energy is, and so I think you’ll see in ’11 and ’12 with that presidential primary, those are going to be the people who come out to vote.”