Parties pour money into state legislature races; redistricting at stake

[DeepModem Mom]

NYT/AP: Parties Finance State Legislature Races
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: October 16, 2006

NEW YORK (AP) -- With the Republican and Democratic divide almost even in the nation's state legislatures, the parties are pouring money into often-overlooked races that could tip the balance of power in several states.

That matters more than ever this election because of the added flexibility courts have given legislatures to redraw the boundaries of congressional districts.

Add up all of the nearly 7,400 seats in state legislatures across the country and Democrats hold the barest 21-seat advantage. In 20 states, Republican control both chambers, with Democrats controlling both houses in 19 others.

A change in just a handful of seats could shift control in a number of states....

***

The national parties have stepped into that divide, bringing their polling, campaigning and fundraising techniques to legislative districts that, in some states, number just a few thousand voters....

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/us/AP-Legislative-Races.html

[aquart]

1. Tough noogies, fellas. NOBODY wants you nowhere.

[justgamma]

2. Word on the street is

that Shrub called a Mayor in a mid-size town in Iowa to personally ask her to run against the Dem incumbent. Iowa is split 25-25. They really want to push it to the Cons.
Just the idea that Shrub has enough time to worry about state politics gives me the willies.

[DeepModem Mom]

3. Interesting! The power to redistrict really has made these races...

a key factor in the ability to win elections.

[madfloridian]

4. That is one of the main goals of Dean's strategy...

getting control of statehouses.