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Provided by The Hill Democrats beating GOP in divide and conquer game

Democrats may be flailing in the minority on Capitol Hill, but newly empowered Republicans have fared far worse in the opening act of the 114th Congress.

While nothing new, GOP divisions have been especially pronounced this January.

On Day 1 of Americas new Congress, House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) had to beat back a rebellion from 25 conservatives seeking to oust him from the top job.

House Republicans passed a critical Homeland Security Department funding bill, only to hear some Senate counterparts warn it was too conservative to clear the upper chamber.

And uprisingsfrom both moderates and conservatives have embarrassed GOP leaders, forcing them to pull both an abortion bill and border-security bill from the floor in two consecutive weeks.

Democrats have their own divisions.

Many liberals are unhappy with President Obamas push for new trade deals and fast-track authority, and Senate Democrats voted in favor of Iran sanctions opposed by the administration this week in committee.

But by and large, congressional Democrats and the White House have done a better job than Republicans at papering over their differences even as theyve sought to exploit the GOPs.

In the House, gleeful Democratic leaders have been doing everything they can to exploit the fissures in Boehners conference.

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Democrats beating GOP in divide and conquer game