Economic woe spurs Democrats in the Rust Belt

[DeepModem Mom]

NYT/Reuters: Economic woe spurs Democrats in the Heartland
By REUTERS
Published: October 18, 2006

CHILLICOTHE, Ohio (Reuters) - Billie Jo Reese works full time, is raising two children alone and is trying to go back to school.

Her wage at a nursing home is $8.25 an hour, putting her family near the poverty line. She can't afford health insurance and isn't sure she'll have enough money for heat all winter.

While Washington is aflame with corruption and sex scandals and the Iraq war, in heartland America voters like Reese are more preoccupied with the struggle to get by.

Ohio pushed President George W. Bush's reelection over the top in 2004, but in congressional elections next month economic hardship in the rust belt could turn the tide against incumbents from Bush's Republican Party....

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Democrats need to gain 15 seats in the House of Representatives and six Senate seats to win majorities in November. They hope to gain four House seats and a Senate position in Ohio....

http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/washington/politics-economy.html