NYSun: Analysts See Democrats Gaining in 2006 Races

[sabra]

http://www.nysun.com/article/25076

Analysts See Democrats Gaining in 2006 Races

WASHINGTON - A Maryland politician who could become the first black Republican senator in nearly three decades, a business executive credited with bringing one of Washington state's biggest insurance companies back from the brink, and a state senator who is the son of one of New Jersey's most popular governors are among the Republican Party's best prospects to gain Senate seats in next year's election.

Meanwhile, Democrats are hoping that a young African-American congressman will make history by winning a Senate race in Tennessee, and that in Pennsylvania the son of another famous governor can oust Senator Santorum, who looks vulnerable.

Several political analysts interviewed by The New York Sun this week said they expect Democrats to narrow the Republican advantage in both houses of Congress next year. But they said Democrats are likely to fall short of winning a majority in either chamber.

The experts cautioned that many races may turn on hard-to-predict factors such as the military situation in Iraq and the vitality of the American economy. One pollster held out the possibility that the Republicans could increase their majorities if the economy grows quickly and large numbers of troops begin returning from Iraq.

[vi5]

1. I don't want to see us getting ahead of ourselves....

We've had our hopes up every election since 2000 and we've seen how most of those turned out. I want us to stay hungry and keep that drive going and the best way to do that is to assume we will lose and do everything within our power to fight that.

[kevsand]

2. You're absolutely right.

I always tell our local candidates to take nothing for granted. Even in a "safe" district, we should always run like we're ten points behind.

[SharonAnn]

5. You can run "scared" or "beat". If you're not running as if you're 10

points behind, you're "beaten".

[salin]

3. Keep in mind that the Sun's target audience is very conservative

I would imagine that this is meant as a "call to arms" (in a 'give money' sort of way) to its more well-healed readers.

[Stevepol]

4. Voting Machine programmers See Republicans Gaining in 2006 Races

[belpejic]

6. No credibility

The Sun is NYC's "serious" conservative paper (as opposed to the Post, which is NYC's clown conservative rag). No one in NYC reads it -- at best it's known for arts coverage -- so pay it no mind. It's funded, I'm certain at a loss, by a bunch of wealthy NY Republicans.

[DainBramaged]

7. Is that why the paper is yellow (yellow journalism?)

Welcome to DU.

My local breakfast hole tried selling that shitty bird cage droppings catcher last year and no one bought it. Even the Thuglie owner said it was like reading the small print on the bottles of disinfectant you buy, you need a magnifying glass which will hurt your eyes more than mis-handling the contents of the bottle.