Paranoia strikes deep: GOP fears "October Surprise" from Democrats

[Human Torch]

One sign of an impending shift, said another, is that staff members for Democratic congressmen have assumed an unusually confident posture. "Democratic staffers don't even joke about it with us anymore. They just know." One pointed to rumors on the Hill that there is the possibility of a Democratic October surprise. " Foley wasn't their surprise. That just kinda happened, but people are saying they do have one of their own."

The Foley scandal has been the dominant political story—and perhaps the prime mover—this election season, fueling conflict within the Republican party, evoking strong criticism from Democrats, and even prompting some right-wing critics to lay the blame at the feet of liberal bogeymen. But that tactic doesn't seem to have resonated in opinion polls.

Earlier in the month, conservative websites began posting stories pointing to an assurance from Karl Rove that a Republican October surprise would rescue their party, but so far none has manifested. One Republican staffer even doubted whether any political maneuver by Rove would be enough to allow the GOP to retain the House, saying "I'm not even sure that'd work at this point."

October has always been a kinetic month in the election cycle, for observers and participants alike. But this October—marked by Republicans playing to their perceived advantage on national security and, perhaps more notably, by the page scandal and its extraordinary momentum—finds even veteran analysts exhausted by the twists and hesitant to make predictions. The election has at times even overwhelmed news coverage of important but unrelated events, including the war in Iraq and the apparent detonation of a nuclear weapon by North Korea. Democrats, however, are playing down the perceived advantage. One veteran Democratic aide, responding to the Republican comments and encouraging polling, said, "When I see Republicans looking for jobs, then I'll start believing the polls."

http://www.rawstory.com/news/2006/GOP_sources_losing_hope_of_victory_1017.html

[greeneyedboy]

1. the "surprise" will be a good old-fashioned rout, fair and square

[wyldwolf]

2. they should fear it.... bwa-ha-h-ha

[thereismore]

3. What do they have to fear? Are there skeletons in their closets? nt

[LSparkle]

4. "Be afraid. Be very afraid, GOPers ... "

Instant Karma's gonna get you, hit you right in the face ...

[rhiannon55]

5. I love being on the other side of the paranoia

for a change. It's about time the repukes got a taste of the fear that they themselves have been stirring up for so long. Poor babies.... :sarcasm:

[Imagevision]

6. GOP will need a couple of dozen of "Roves" at this point

Rove october surprise? "George just keep smiling"...

[sofa king]

9. Maybe all of them replacements for the real one.

If the rumor mill here in DC is correct, Karl doesn't just like fucking guys in the ass on the political front....

[keta11]

7. We don't do October Surprises

We deliver November Ass Whuppings!!

[4_TN_TITANS]

8. This is getting a little incredulous...

All the articles lately predicting Dem wins, and now we have an October suprise up our sleeves? I'm feeling like I'm being set up for a crushing fall... 2004 was bad enough.

[Name removed]

10. Deleted message

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

[osaMABUSh]

11. Your name is predict06?

What is your investment in that site?

Everything I looked on the site has the GOP winning so apparently the freepers have got a hold of it. What value is this type of "polling" anyway?

[Infinite Hope]

12. lol....that site is good comic relief

[Daylin Byak]

14. I don't joke about the elections

This is no joke.

[neverforget]

13. That site is not in the "reality based" community so it fits in well with

the Bush kool-aid drinkers. What a joke!