Bush: We'll hold House & Senate...our forward-looking optimism has worked

[Human Torch]

News
06/14/2006 10:21:58 EST
Bush on Elections: Republicans Will Win

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WASHINGTON - President Bush predicted on Wednesday that Republicans will maintain majority control of the House and Senate this November despite polls showing voters favor putting Democrats in charge.

"I believe we're going to hold the House and the Senate because our philosophy is one that is forward-looking and optimistic and has worked," Bush told reporters at a White House news conference.

Last week, the Associated Press-Ipsos poll found that only 24 percent of those surveyed approve of the way the Republican-controlled Congress is doing its job. Fifty-two percent said they want Democrats to capture control of Congress in November, about the same as last month's survey.

Bush said that in 2004 he faced questions on whether he could win re-election despite unfavorable numbers. This year, he contended, is no different. "The elections are a long way off," the president said nearly five months out. "What's going to matter is who's got the plan that will enable us to succeed in Iraq and keep the economy growing." He criticized some in the Democratic Party for calling for a withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq and offered his oft-repeated line that Democrats want to raise taxes.