In a report issued this morning, University of Virginia politics guru Larry Sabato predicts that Republican candidates will pick up 47 House seats in this year's midterm elections, which is more than enough to restore them to majority status in the U.S. House of Representatives. In the U.S. Senate, Sabato estimates that Republicans have an outside shot of winning full control--which would be 10 new seats won--but will likely end up winning eight seats. In the midterm tradition, 2010 was always going to be a Republican year, Sabato says--it has just been a question of degree. "But conditions have deteriorated badly for Democrats over the summer," he notes. "The economy appears rotten, with little chance of a substantial comeback by November 2. Unemployment is very high, income growth sluggish, and public confidence quite low." But Thomas Jefferson Street blogger Brad Bannon says Democrats still have a fighting chance if they run the right campaign. "Democrats should argue that they have worked hard to lay the groundwork for a recovery while Republicans have sat on their posteriors," he writes.
What do you think? Is Sabato right? Take our poll and post your thoughts below.
Previously: Did Glenn Beck's D.C. Rally Strike the Right Tone?
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- See a slide show of 5 key issues in the 2010 elections.
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fred of AZ 8:58AM November 07, 2010
hick 67 of CA 2:52AM September 16, 2010
Independent of MA 12:40PM September 06, 2010