Democrats take heart as Americans turn their back on Bush policies

[cal04]

· Republicans trail on all main issues, poll finds
· Immigration and Iraq are hurting White House most

The Republicans could face a substantial electoral defeat later this year, leaving George Bush a lame-duck president, a poll published yesterday suggests. The poll, for the Washington Post and ABC television, confirmed a rapid slide in support for Mr Bush and raised hopes of a Democrat revival by putting the party ahead on all important indicators, from the economy to Iraq and immigration.

Mr Bush is now just hovering above lows reached only by presidents Richard Nixon, Jimmy Carter, Harry Truman and his father. He has been unable to reverse the slump, despite a series of initiatives that included reshuffling his White House team last month, making a televised address to the nation on Monday night on Mexican immigration, and talking up progress on a new government for Iraq.

(snip)
The Democrats are hoping that in November's election they can regain control of the House of Representatives, lost after 40 years in a traumatic Republican landslide in 1994, and possibly gain the Senate. Control of either house would see a series of investigations launched that would add to pressure on Mr Bush in the last two years of his administration. Mr Luntz said: "It is absolutely possible for the Democrats to take one or both (houses). I was involved in 1994. It feels like a 1994-style election. Voters will come to the ballots for candidates they do not even know ." Mr Frum was less pessimistic: "It is not impossible that Republicans could eke out a hold in both houses."

(snip)
Thomas Mann, a senior fellow at the Washington-based Brookings Institution, said: "It has been an extraordinary collapse of support for the president and the Republican party. If you look at the poll ratings for the government on a range of issues, all of those are more damning than 94 was for the Democrats." He said people had lost trust in Mr Bush as a result of Iraq and Hurricane Katrina. He had given a reasonable speech on immigration,"but no one is listening any more".
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http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,,1777285,00.html

[cliss]

1. They can't steal this election!

They just can't. The voting theft only worked when there was a fairly small margin between the opposing parties. If the margin was wider, it would have exploded in their faces.

I'm sure they'll try. But if the exit polls show a HUGE margin, they are going to have a revolution on their hands.

Better get out, Repubs. Take my advice.

[AX10]

2. Stealing this election would be too obvious for the GOP.

Still bee vigilant.

Range of Possible Victories For the Democrats:

House: 210-238
Senate: 47-54
Governorships: 26-31

[AX10]

3. kick

Come on, this is good news.

[rodeodance]

4. "talking up progress on a new government for Iraq"--they will pull troops

in the nick of time!