All that complacency among Republican strategists regarding structural advantages and the like is fast disappearing:
President Bush’s approval ratings hit a series of new lows in an AP-Ipsos poll that also shows Republicans surrendering their advantage on national security — grim election-year news for a party struggling to stay in power.
Democratic leaders predicted they will seize control of one or both chambers of Congress in November. Republicans said they feared the worst unless the political landscape quickly changes.
“These numbers are scary. We’ve lost every advantage we’ve ever had,” GOP pollster Tony Fabrizio said. “The good news is Democrats don’t have much of a plan. The bad news is they may not need one.”
The AP article lays out the three conditions necessary for the Democrats to take back Congress:
Strategists in both parties say it would take an extraordinary set of circumstances for Democrats to seize control of Congress.
First, the elections would need to be nationalized. Democrats hope to do that with a burgeoning ethics scandal focused on relationships between GOP lobbyists and lawmakers.
Secondly, the public would need to be in a throw-the-bums-out mood. It’s unclear whether that is the case, but 69 percent of Americans believes the nation is headed in the wrong direction — the largest percentage during the Bush presidency and up 13 points from a year ago.
Third, staunch GOP voters would need to stay home. Nobody can predict whether that will happen, but a growing number of Republicans disagree with their leaders in Washington about immigration, federal spending and other issues.
All the more reason to put forward a bold agenda now, while there’s still time. Part three of my winning agenda series this weekend…
April 7th, 2006 at 10:23 pm
yea, you’ve really got to wonder, with poll numbers as they are, why Dubya would want to pull this immigration BS and P*&S of the base just a few months before the election.
April 9th, 2006 at 10:10 am
My prediction has always been that the Republicans will lose a few seats but keep both houses. The voter mood will be ‘For God’s sake, get some movement on Iraq one way or another’. But I doubt they’ll see handing the situations to morons like Kerry and Pelosi as the solution.
Lose a few and keep both houses, then in 08, with Iraq stabilized, Iran bombed and most US forces out of danger, McCain/Condi will annihilate Hillary. Annihilate.
April 16th, 2006 at 9:56 pm
You forgot to mention in 08 that the deficit will be about a zillion dollars. Iran bombed? In your dreams.
Fuggin arrogant neocons thinkin America is the policeman of the world.
I wonder what stuff the republican slime machine will have on hillary in 08? My bet is they try to blame 9/11 on her- the sex she gave bill wasnt good enough, so bill had to get some during the daytime, and that caused 9/11 to happen later on.
Kinda surprised you twerps didnt try to impeach Carter for saying he had “lusted in his heart”. Really no diff between that and the crap you tried doing to clinton.
Freaks.
April 16th, 2006 at 10:35 pm
Hey, nice to hear from a fan…have a great one, pal…