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Gandalf Grey
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Article published Sep 15, 2007
Run fuels Democrats' '08 hopes
By SARAH LIEBOWITZ
Monitor staff
Sep 15, 2007
F
ormer governor Jeanne Shaheen's entry into New Hampshire's
U.S. Senate race yesterday only added to the confidence of national
Democratic strategists, political observers said.
"The Senate Democrats are on cloud 12, three stories above
cloud nine," said Larry Sabato, director of University of Virginia's Center
for Politics. "They're nearly guaranteed to pick up a fair number of seats.
The control of the Senate is not in question."
Democrats will likely pick up three or four seats in next
year's election, although that number could climb to eight, Sabato said.
While Democrats have to defend 12 seats next year, there will be 22
Republican seats up for grabs. Currently, Democrats have a slim, two-member
edge in the Senate, although that number includes two independents who
caucus with Democrats.
Among Senate Republicans facing re-election, New
Hampshire's John Sununu is widely considered one of the most vulnerable.
Buoyed in 2002 by national support for President Bush in
the aftermath of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, Sununu is now forced to
contend with the political consequences of an unpopular war and a president
who has plummeted in opinion polls. In New Hampshire, Sununu has faced
criticism for his support of the war in Iraq and for his position on
federally funded embryonic stem cell research.
Sununu will also face a voter base that has trended blue.
Last year, Democrats ousted the state's two Republican congressmen and won
simultaneous control of the state Senate, House and governor's office for
the first time in more than a century.
While several other Democrats have entered the race for
Sununu's seat, Shaheen is the best known and has attracted the most national
attention. Recent polls show Shaheen, who lost to Sununu in 2002, handily
winning a rematch.
"I would put Shaheen as the favorite in New Hampshire,"
Sabato said. "I think Sununu's in deep, deep trouble."
New Hampshire aside, political observers point to
Virginia, Oregon, Minnesota, Colorado and Maine as states with Senate seats
that could swing from Republican to Democratic.
Former Virginia governor Mark Warner, a prominent Democrat
who considered a presidential bid, is running for the seat currently held by
Republican John Warner, who is retiring. Republican Sen. Chuck Hagel of
Nebraska also recently announced his plans to retire, throwing that seat
into play. Former Democratic governor and U.S. senator Bob Kerrey is
considering a run in that state, according to news reports. Sabato even
thinks Democrats have a shot at the seat held by Alaska's Republican Sen.
Ted Stevens, who has caught up in political scandals.
In contrast, few Democratic seats are in danger, observers
said.
"I see an environment that favors the Democrats in '08,"
said Stephen Wayne, a professor or American government at Georgetown
University. "The real test is how much it favors the Democrats. I see the
Democrats picking up seats in the Senate and at the very worst holding their
own in the House."
------ End of article
By SARAH LIEBOWITZ
Monitor staff
--
NOTICE: This post contains copyrighted material the use of which has not
always been authorized by the copyright owner. I am making such material
available to advance understanding of
political, human rights, democracy, scientific, and social justice issues. I
believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of such copyrighted material as
provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright
Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107
"A little patience and we shall see the reign of witches pass over, their
spells dissolve, and the people recovering their true sight, restore their
government to its true principles. It is true that in the meantime we are
suffering deeply in spirit,
and incurring the horrors of a war and long oppressions of enormous public
debt. But if the game runs sometimes against us at home we must have
patience till luck turns, and then we shall have an opportunity of winning
back the principles we have lost, for this is a game where principles are at
stake."
-Thomas Jefferson
Run fuels Democrats' '08 hopes
By SARAH LIEBOWITZ
Monitor staff
Sep 15, 2007
F
ormer governor Jeanne Shaheen's entry into New Hampshire's
U.S. Senate race yesterday only added to the confidence of national
Democratic strategists, political observers said.
"The Senate Democrats are on cloud 12, three stories above
cloud nine," said Larry Sabato, director of University of Virginia's Center
for Politics. "They're nearly guaranteed to pick up a fair number of seats.
The control of the Senate is not in question."
Democrats will likely pick up three or four seats in next
year's election, although that number could climb to eight, Sabato said.
While Democrats have to defend 12 seats next year, there will be 22
Republican seats up for grabs. Currently, Democrats have a slim, two-member
edge in the Senate, although that number includes two independents who
caucus with Democrats.
Among Senate Republicans facing re-election, New
Hampshire's John Sununu is widely considered one of the most vulnerable.
Buoyed in 2002 by national support for President Bush in
the aftermath of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, Sununu is now forced to
contend with the political consequences of an unpopular war and a president
who has plummeted in opinion polls. In New Hampshire, Sununu has faced
criticism for his support of the war in Iraq and for his position on
federally funded embryonic stem cell research.
Sununu will also face a voter base that has trended blue.
Last year, Democrats ousted the state's two Republican congressmen and won
simultaneous control of the state Senate, House and governor's office for
the first time in more than a century.
While several other Democrats have entered the race for
Sununu's seat, Shaheen is the best known and has attracted the most national
attention. Recent polls show Shaheen, who lost to Sununu in 2002, handily
winning a rematch.
"I would put Shaheen as the favorite in New Hampshire,"
Sabato said. "I think Sununu's in deep, deep trouble."
New Hampshire aside, political observers point to
Virginia, Oregon, Minnesota, Colorado and Maine as states with Senate seats
that could swing from Republican to Democratic.
Former Virginia governor Mark Warner, a prominent Democrat
who considered a presidential bid, is running for the seat currently held by
Republican John Warner, who is retiring. Republican Sen. Chuck Hagel of
Nebraska also recently announced his plans to retire, throwing that seat
into play. Former Democratic governor and U.S. senator Bob Kerrey is
considering a run in that state, according to news reports. Sabato even
thinks Democrats have a shot at the seat held by Alaska's Republican Sen.
Ted Stevens, who has caught up in political scandals.
In contrast, few Democratic seats are in danger, observers
said.
"I see an environment that favors the Democrats in '08,"
said Stephen Wayne, a professor or American government at Georgetown
University. "The real test is how much it favors the Democrats. I see the
Democrats picking up seats in the Senate and at the very worst holding their
own in the House."
------ End of article
By SARAH LIEBOWITZ
Monitor staff
--
NOTICE: This post contains copyrighted material the use of which has not
always been authorized by the copyright owner. I am making such material
available to advance understanding of
political, human rights, democracy, scientific, and social justice issues. I
believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of such copyrighted material as
provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright
Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107
"A little patience and we shall see the reign of witches pass over, their
spells dissolve, and the people recovering their true sight, restore their
government to its true principles. It is true that in the meantime we are
suffering deeply in spirit,
and incurring the horrors of a war and long oppressions of enormous public
debt. But if the game runs sometimes against us at home we must have
patience till luck turns, and then we shall have an opportunity of winning
back the principles we have lost, for this is a game where principles are at
stake."
-Thomas Jefferson
