Reply #13: US Democrats with big edge in campaign's last week

[Omaha Steve]

US Democrats with big edge in campaign's last week
Email this Story

Oct 29, 7:58 AM (ET)

By John Whitesides, Political Correspondent

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democrats enter the final week of the fight for Congress with a commanding edge over Republicans, who hope a strong voter turnout effort and shift in focus away from Iraq can limit their losses.

Recent polls show that growing Democratic momentum, fed by strong dissatisfaction with President George W. Bush's leadership and the war in Iraq, threatens Republican power in the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate.

The public's thirst for change in Washington has Republicans pondering how bad things will be in the November 7 election and calculating whether they can stop Democrats from picking up the 15 House and six Senate seats needed to claim majorities.

"This is the most challenging environment for Republicans since the Watergate year of 1974," said Republican political consultant Whit Ayres, referring to the loss of 48 House seats after the resignation of disgraced Republican President Richard Nixon.

FULL story at link above.