Dems holding leads in many pivotal races

[cal04]

Democrats hold solid leads for four of the six Republican seats they need to capture the Senate and about 10 of 15 required to win the House, according to officials in both parties. Numerous additional races remain highly competitive.

After two weeks of adverse publicity linked to the Mark Foley scandal, public and private polling suggested partial recovery for some endangered Republican incumbents, and senior party officials made a concerted effort to project confidence.

"By many measures, there are strong indications of a right-of-center base that is engaged and committed," party chairman Ken Mehlman said Friday in a memo written for public consumption.

The assertion was a response to independent polls that show disapproval of
President Bush's policies, including on the Iraq war, and discontent with Congress have made Democrats more eager to vote on Nov. 7 than Republicans.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061021/ap_on_el_ge/election_stakes

[Eric J in MN]

1. Crud. I wish Democrats had solid leads in at least 20 House races,

not 10.

[cal04]

3. I think it's much more than they're admitting to

At the same time, Democrats said unexpected opportunities for gains keep coming their way — including House races in Minnesota, Idaho and Nevada — and they have the money needed to battle Republicans to the end.

"We have enough to play defense in the blue states and offense in the red states," said Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York, who heads the Democratic senatorial committee.

[Judi Lynn]

6. Schumer's observation sounds decent enough! Thanks. n/t

[AlCzervik]

5. i think there is a silent majority out there that will be voting

and they won't be voting for the gop.

[virgdem]

7. I think you are correct..

I'm here in S.E. Virginia (Norfolk/VA Beach), which has been solidly Republican for the past few decades. I've been doing some unofficial polling of people that have been staunch Republicans. One such acquaintance has indicated to me that she is so disgusted that both she and her husband are switching and voting for Democrats (her son is stationed in Iraq BTW, but whatever it takes, I'm happy). I almost fell off the chair when she said that. Slowly but surely, people are coming around, which means that there is hope for victory in November.

[Ediacara]

9. They are

Ten is all Mehlman is willing to admit.

[TomClash]

10. Not 20, I want 50! nt

[Moloch]

2. Wow... That's really bad news.

I thought we were doing much better than that.

[reprobate]

4. We ARE doing much better than that. One estimate I saw said that

forty to fifty house seats were now a toss up. It's just possible that we will emerge from this election with a governing majority in both houses of congress. Don't get disappointed yet. It's just now getting interesting.

[Iwasthere]

8. We are doing better AND it isn't being published because they plan to

Steal it again. Would'nt look legit if too many flipped at the last minute

[depakid]

11. Unfortunately, those are my thoughts, too

The corporate media is complicit in this. If not outright engaged in fraud.

[SoCalDem]

12. dems were leading in Georgia the DAY before the election in '02

and we all know what happened there

[rodeodance]

13. Recovery Seen for Some GOP Hopefuls

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=2595208

Recovery Seen for Some GOP Hopefuls
Democrats Lead Many Important Congressional Races, but Some GOP Hopefuls See Recovery in Polls

By DAVID ESPO AP Special Correspondent

WASHINGTON Oct 21, 2006 (AP)— Democrats hold solid leads for four of the six Republican seats they need to capture the Senate and about 10 of 15 required to win the House, according to officials in both parties. Numerous additional races remain highly competitive.

After two weeks of adverse publicity linked to the Mark Foley scandal, public and private polling suggested partial recovery for some endangered Republican incumbents, and senior party officials made a concerted effort to project confidence.

"By many measures, there are strong indications of a right-of-center base that is engaged and committed," party chairman Ken Mehlman said Friday in a memo written for public consumption.

The assertion was a response to independent polls that show disapproval of President Bush's policies, including on the Iraq war, and discontent with Congress have made Democrats more eager to vote on Nov. 7 than Republicans.

[William769]

14. Lets see the (dis)information is from the RNC chairman.

:eyes:

[rodeodance]

24. he gets paid to be happy.

[PSPS]

15. This is the beginning of the backstory for the upcoming election thefts

Republicans everywhere will "miraculously" win, contrary to all the exit polls which are, of course, unreliable except in other countries. The media will proclaim astonishment at how "adept" the GOP is in overcoming "bad news."

Now stay tuned for this message from WalMart.

[liberal N proud]

16. We just have to work harder the next two weeks

Pump it up ladies and gentlemen

[rodeodance]

22. yes, we do have lots of work the next two weeks.

[AlCzervik]

17. i printed this article and after reading it this is what i get

Mehlman is trying to rally the troops, to be expected but these 3 items stood out for me

Increasingly, though, officials in both parties said the battle for Senate control probably will come down to close races in Missouri, Tennessee and Virginia. All three are Republican-held seats where Democratic challengers have exceeded precampaign expectations.

imo they've totally given up on Santorum

The House Republicans in greatest danger of defeat include Reps. Charles Taylor of North Carolina and John Hostettler of Indiana, and Sherwood and Weldon of Pennsylvania, according to private polls. Of those incumbents, only Hostettler is not campaigning against a backdrop of scandal, either personal or political.


the best part---

Relatively few Democratic-held seats appear in jeopardy.

[TheCowsCameHome]

18. Engaged, committed, as in indicted and jailed. Recovery = rehabbing.

Key words that aptly describe the situation of many of the current crop of criminals in the GOP.

Nicely worded, Kenny.

[Straight Shooter]

19. I would prefer to see an opinion from someone who isn't a lying SOB. n/t

[badgervan]

21. Bald Faced Liar

Just how many lies are these folks allowed before nobody believes a word they say anymore? This amazes me no end - lie after lie after lie, yet the media dutifully reports the crap, without examining the validity/truth of the statement(s). AAARRRGGGHHHH!!!!

[CHIMO]

20. Looking For A Reason

That can be given for winning the votes.

Can't do it based on polls.
Can't do it on the moral majority.
So, hype something else to use as the reason for winning.

[rodeodance]

23. Democrats: More seats coming into play (diff. headline-SAME art)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061022/ap_on_el_ge/election_stakes;_ylt=Ag9jNCOhXBAUpVzscecg5r3MWM0F;_ylu=X3oDMTA3ODdxdHBhBHNlYwM5NjQ-

Democrats: More seats coming into play

By DAVID ESPO, AP Special Correspondent 1 hour, 15 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - Democrats hold solid leads for four of the six Republican seats they need to capture the Senate and about 10 of 15 required to win the House, according to officials in both parties. Numerous additional races remain highly competitive.


After two weeks of adverse publicity linked to the Mark Foley scandal, public and private polling suggested partial recovery for some endangered Republican incumbents, and senior party officials made a concerted effort to project confidence.

"By many measures, there are strong indications of a right-of-center base that is engaged and committed," party chairman Ken Mehlman said Friday in a memo written for public consumption.

The assertion was a response to independent polls that show disapproval of
President Bush's policies, including on the
Iraq war, and discontent with Congress have made Democrats more eager to vote on Nov. 7 than Republicans.

At the same time, Democrats said unexpected opportunities for gains keep coming their way — including House races in Minnesota, Idaho and Nevada — and they have the money needed to battle Republicans to the end.

[aquart]

26. How many people left in that base, Kenny? Ten?

[1932]

25. Nice that we're giving Ken Melman some pixel space here at DU

I was really wondering what he thought about the election.

[Boston Critic]

27. AP: Democrats More Seats Coming Into Play

Democrats: More seats coming into play
By David Espo, AP Special Correspondent | October 22, 2006

WASHINGTON --Democrats hold solid leads for four of the six Republican seats they need to capture the Senate and about 10 of 15 required to win the House, according to officials in both parties. Numerous additional races remain highly competitive.

After two weeks of adverse publicity linked to the Mark Foley scandal, public and private polling suggested partial recovery for some endangered Republican incumbents, and senior party officials made a concerted effort to project confidence.

"By many measures, there are strong indications of a right-of-center base that is engaged and committed," party chairman Ken Mehlman said Friday in a memo written for public consumption.

The assertion was a response to independent polls that show disapproval of President Bush's policies, including on the Iraq war, and discontent with Congress have made Democrats more eager to vote on Nov. 7 than Republicans.

At the same time, Democrats said unexpected opportunities for gains keep coming their way -- including House races in Minnesota, Idaho and Nevada -- and they have the money needed to battle Republicans to the end.

"We have enough to play defense in the blue states and offense in the red states," said Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York, who heads the Democratic senatorial committee.
***

By contrast, Republicans have few opportunities to take away House or Senate seats belonging to Democrats. Georgia, where the GOP is aiming at two House seats, is one such case.

In the battle for the Senate, public and private polling shows Democratic challengers leading incumbents in Pennsylvania, Montana and Rhode Island as well as in Ohio, where the entire GOP ticket is struggling.

Officials who discussed the private surveys did so on condition of anonymity, saying they were not authorized to speak publicly.

***
Increasingly, though, officials in both parties said the battle for Senate control probably will come down to close races in Missouri, Tennessee and Virginia. All three are Republican-held seats where Democratic challengers have exceeded precampaign expectations.

Under most scenarios, Democrats would have to win two of the three to gain a majority...

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2006/10/22/democrats_more_seats_coming_into_play/

[roguevalley]

28. if they ever say Don Young in Alaska loses, then the Apocolypse is

indeed upon us. :)

[upi402]

29. So ironic

That a gay man would convince Americans to vote in their own best interest.
Foley they understand, Downing Street Memo makes their eyes glaze over.
:shrug:

[Lindsay]

30. Maybe I'm giving people too much benefit of doubt,

but I suspect that for a lot of folks who'd bought into the family values line of crap, Foley was the perfect final straw. Folks who'd stood by the party because it was too uncomfortable to admit they'd made a mistake saw the cover-up for (in their belief) an old gay lecher as a perfect excuse to make a break.

[upi402]

31. Yes, I can understand that too. Call me a flip-flopper

I want to have hope but I was astonished the Idjit was "elected" once. I was 100% certain Americans wouldn't want democracy subverted as in the 2000 vote, and overwhelmingly reject the Swiftboat tactics. I guess I'm still licking my wounds and resenting my fellow Americans -or 48% of them, or god know what REAL percentage...

[luckyleftyme2]

32. HANG IN THERE

Just put your faith in your fellow man,we're gonna kick butt in november!

GO DEMOCRATS,ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS VOTE DEMOCRATIC IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE RACES TO RID THIS ADMINISTRATION OF IT'S POWER!!
THAN THE COURTS WILL DO THE REST!