Senate surprise: Democrats pulling ahead in close races

[kskiska]

WASHINGTON -- Unexpected retirements and divisive Republican primary races have turned the battle for control of the US Senate into a tossup, with November's elections shaping up as another series of excruciatingly tight contests to fill the closely divided chamber, according to campaign officials in both parties.

Democrats, who less than a year ago faced dim chances of overcoming the GOP's 51-48 majority, now lead in the polls in all seven competitive races in which head-to-head public polling has been done, a trend that would produce a gain of three Democratic seats, in Oklahoma, Colorado, and Alaska.

Control of the Senate could be critical for the next president. If Democrat John F. Kerry wins but faces a GOP-controlled Congress, it is unlikely he will be able to pass major domestic initiatives. If Bush wins reelection but is hamstrung by a Democratic-controlled Senate, he will have a more difficult time getting his judicial nominations approved.

In Oklahoma, Democrat Brad Carson's strong showing in early opinion polls could mean a gain for the Democrats and a new Native American senator. In Colorado's race to replace Republican Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell, Democrat Ken Salazar, leading in polls, could become the first Latino in the Senate in a quarter-century. Alaska, once a guaranteed Republican stronghold, now appears in play, with incumbent Republican Lisa Murkowski -- who replaced her father, Frank, when he became governor -- trailing slightly in the polls.

more…
http://www.boston.com/news/politics/us_senate/articles/2004/04/11/senate_surprise_democrats_pulling_ahead_in_close_races/

[wryter2000]

1. Good news!

This is great news. Maybe we will take our country back!!

:bounce:

[skooooo]

3. Colorado now a toss up state? That's what I read earlier...

The election is a lonnngg way off...but there are some glimmers of hope, it would seem.

[mountainvue]

13. Salazar will win.

There's no doubt in my mind.

[freetobegay]

2. This is something I really needed to hear today!

Thanks for posting.

[Crachet2004]

4. This is what is really happening throughout the US...people sick of

GOP Bullshit. They are going to keep running their fake, manipulated polls right up until election day, but when the votes are counted, the lies will become apparent, as the GOP loses race after race.

The story will be that nobody knew the groundswell of democrat support was out there...and are'nt we all surprised? Watch and see. A paradigm shift in American politics is coming.

[UrbScotty]

7. I hope you're right.

<crosses fingers>

[Mechatanketra]

10. Problem.

They are going to keep running their fake, manipulated polls right up until election day, but when the votes are counted, the lies will become apparent, as the GOP loses race after race.

Only if we can count on the elections themselves not being another fake manipulated poll. Evidence exists to suggest otherwise. :-(

[TankLV]

32. I pray and hope that it will be like FDR's first term.

When he cleaned house.

I truely believe it could happen - but I won't bet on it - this bunch of criminals currently occupying our government will not go peacefully or willingly.

I am more sure of something sinister, like a MIHOP to cancel the elections or a sudden loss of one or many democratic candidates close to the election.

[UrbScotty]

5. Great! We might win it!

Don't be surprised, though, if Missouri is also competitive. Kit Bond is not as safe as he may appear to be. He's never broken out of 53% in any of his races.

[cornermouse]

8. I don't know about Bond, but I look for Blunt, Jr. to

win the governorship. (sigh) All we need is another political "dynasty".

By the way, did you hear how nasty and juvenile the Missouri repub leadership have been sounding on NPR lately? I heard a tape of some republican being a total braying jackass to his democratic counterparts.

[mobuto]

16. Is Holden running?

After working with his office on a project, I must say I found his guys to be feckless cowards.

[Ravy]

6. It is a long time till the election.. but if this trend continues

it won't even be close in November. Maybe talk of getting the house back will be next.

I think the Dems need to come out with Contract for America II (but with a different name) promising what legislation will be brought up during the first 100 days if the government is once again under our control.

-moderate middle-class tax cuts
-repeal of the tax cuts for the wealthiest
-Kerry's catastrophic health care pool
-Repeal of the Medicare provisions against re-importation, price negotiation.

etc.

[demosincebirth]

9. I can only dream..

how good I would feel if we could have decent health care for all!

[NMDemDist2]

15. Ravy good idea

email it to kerry and the DNC

[e-mail]


http://www.democrats.org/contact/

[JCMach1]

11. If we take Alaska, hell hath frozen over...

Oklahoma is a VERY real possibility. The upset special of the campaign.

CO-- MAYBE???

[Judi Lynn]

14. It would be outstanding to see Frank Murkowski and the GOP

take a hit when his designated Senator Lisa bites the dust.

No doubt they envisioned a little GOP Murkowski dynasty when they pulled off that smooth move.

[aquart]

25. Nuh uh. Global warming.

[SayitAintSo]

12. Best News all day !

After the media whores skimmed over the PDB story. Alas.... there is hope .... worm turning

[brokensymmetry]

17. Don't be surprised.

The pResident's team are making such a mess of things, foreign and domestic, that we've got a real chance to take the whole thing - House, Senate, and White House.

Cleaning up the mess...now that's going to be a challenge.

[leesa]

18. I'll bet they aren't as close as they are paying the media to tell us they

are. The GOP is going down.

[llmart]

19. You made my day.

I would be overjoyed if Kerry won AND the Senate became Dem-ruled. I would pull my flag out of the closet and fly it proudly once again (it's been retired since the stolen election of 2000).

[truthisfreedom]

20. i guess it's all up to diebold now.

[Florida_Geek]

21. As the body bags keep coming home

and the jobs keep going overseas, * will be lower and lower in the polls. When a Repug stays home so not to vote to * so does his Senate vote.

[The Zanti Regent]

22. Don't forget Pennsylvania!

Toomey is closing in on Specter and Joe Hoeffel can pick that seat up for the Democrats!

[agincourt]

23. If we ever get,

this GOPig garbage out of power, let's make sure they don't come back. I've been sick of their shit since '94. This would be a great country if not for the likes of Delay , Gingrich, Hasert , Hyde, Bush, ..etc.. etc..

[aquart]

24. Why is anyone surprised?

NOBODY in this country is happy.

[Democat]

26. This line in the article says a lot

If Bush wins reelection but is hamstrung by a Democratic-controlled Senate, he will have a more difficult time getting his judicial nominations approved.

He'll have a "difficult time", but in the end he'll get his corporate extremist judges approved even with a Democratic Senate.

That's why we can not let Bush win.

[wabeewoman]

33. The one positive

is I really think there will be an impeachment and maybe even worse if bush is elected and democrats control the congress. But really, bush didn't win in 2000 and many, many more people dislike him now, so how could he possibly win. My sister voted for him (no difference between the candidates, she says) and now she hates him. I think the worm has turned.

[I Lean Left]

35. Especially if he keeps doing recess appointments

Dem control of the senate won't slow him down there. And he stopped trying to pass legislation awhile ago. A Dem senate would help Kerry more than it would hurt Bush.

[osaMABUSh]

27. What do they call the opposite of coat tails?

We all know the term when Congressional candidates get votes because their party's incumbent President wins and pulls them with him.

What is it called when the incumbent loses votes for his party's candidates?

Maybe we can coin it as the "W effect". This may be happening.

If this leads to a Kerry/Clark WH and a Dem Senate there would hope for this country after all.

[JoFerret]

28. BushCo drag

and electoral qWagmire

[TroglodyteScholar]

29. Bush's judicial nominees....

"If Bush wins reelection but is hamstrung by a Democratic-controlled Senate, he will have a more difficult time getting his judicial nominations approved."

Hm, that's odd...Senate disapproval hasn't always worked during this term..........

[0007]

30. btt

[Name removed]

31. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[salonghorn70]

34. Still a Long Time To Go

BUT I'd rather be in front now than behind. This is really good news.

[thexanman]

36. I am reading this right before going to bed

I hope I have dreams of a Democrat-controlled Senate. It must happen!

[The_Casual_Observer]

37. No surprise

The republicans pissed away their big "Iraq/terror" scare advantage.

All they have to show for it is a bankrupt country, record high gas prices and endless grief.

[Ediacara]

38. This doesn't even mention Illinois and Pennsylvania

(well ok the quoted section doesn't...)

Which, IMHO, are all but guarenteed Dem pickups

[davsand]

45. Illinois Senate race: Obama up by over 15% over the GOP candidate

Illinois has been written off by the GOP anyhow, but yeah, Obama--our wonderful Dem candidate--is looking very strong right now.

I love the smell of GOP candidates getting flamed by the voters!

Laura

[bobbieinok]

39. OK senate race

Coburn entered repub primary - 'felt god wanted me to'

he's the representative Carson replaced

people so-so about Humphries (?) repub front-runner seem to be fired-up about Coburn

Coburn is a doctor - one of very few repugs elected in 94 who indeed only served 3 terms as they had promised - 'term limits' remember??

[porkrind]

40. Great News.

I hope we don't get "Diebolded." How close is the house race?

[dusty64]

41. Good news

is worth a :kick:

[TahitiNut]

42. Democratic Senators represent 55.14% of the population already.

Republicans in the Senate only represent 44.75% of the population. It gives a whole new meaning to "wag the dog."

[AlecBGreen]

43. my favorite part

"There is a battle between social-movement conservatives and country-club Republicans," said Brad Woodhouse, spokesman for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, predicting that whoever wins will be weakened by the fight.

Thats the story all over America: traditional Republicans (states rights, low taxes and spending, etc) vs. the fundies

[KansDem]

44. Aha! It's 1994 all over again...

Except this time the good guys will win!
:dem:
I love the smell of impeachment in the morning!!!

(ps: this is in regard to the Congress! Not the WH!)