Well, the question needs to be asked, then, why would a progressive publication be worried that the NRSC is losing funding or influence? And I believe the answer is that they are worried about losing one of their tools that elects and protects moderate senators...because moderate senators vote with democrats.
Arlen Specter, Charlie Crist, Lincoln Chafee, who the NRSC supported became democrats. Jim Jeffords, John Warner, and Richard Lugar, who the NRSC supported assisted democrats.
Well yes, but we already knew all that.