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| Democrats abandoning ship before 2010 |
| 2009-12-15 |
| Analysts look at the number of senators and representatives who choose to leave Congress as an indicator of how the political winds are blowing for the upcoming congressional elections. For Democrats looking ahead to the 2010 contests, the outlook is anything but bright.The Examiner'sMichael Barone has in recent weeks chronicled the lengthening parade of House Democrats deciding not to seek re-election. Judging by voter attitudes on major issues and their voting intentions as measured by generic ballot surveys, it looks like 2010 is going to be a very tough year for incumbents generally, but especially so for Democrats. Among the Democrats Barone has spotlighted are Reps. Dennis Moore of Kansas, John Tanner and Bart Gordon of Tennessee, Brian Baird of Washington, and Neil Abercrombie of Hawaii. Abercrombie is leaving the House early in order to campaign for governor, but the other four Democrats, all of whose districts have been trending Republican, are simply retiring. Tanner and Gordon are especially noteworthy as less liberal Blue Dog Democrats who have found life under House Speaker Nancy Pelosi "challenging." In addition to retirements, there are many Democrats in serious danger of defeat. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada currently trails both of the Republicans seeking to challenge him. Reid, with Pelosi, is most closely associated with President Obama's agenda, but he is vastly better-funded than either of his expected GOP opponents, and can legitimately claim that Nevadans benefit from his highly visible national political profile. Similarly, Rep. Dina Titus in Nevada's Third Congressional District, is having a hard time maintaining a slim lead over her expected GOP challenger, despite the clear advantages of incumbency and an eight-point Democratic advantage in voter registration in her district. In pollster Scott Rasmussen's continuing survey of voters' party preferences for Congress, Republicans have led Democrats for four straight months now.Even though the Republican lead has been reduced to only four points in the most recent results, it's clear the GOP has an advantage in a two-way race against the Democrats.Combine all of this with Obama's historically low public approval rating, and you can expect more Democrats to decide the time has come for them to leave Congress and quit while they're ahead. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #3 "PLease don't let the door hit you in the ass as you leave" Yeah - you can't afford any more brain damage.... |
| Posted by: Barbara Skolaut 2009-12-15 20:01 |
| #2 PLease don't let the door hit you in the ass as you leave, just leave now..... |
| Posted by: NoMoreBS 2009-12-15 18:53 |
| #1 Kos is in panic mode In our weekly poll last week, 80 percent of Republicans are definitely or probably going to vote. For Democrats, it was just 55 percent. Those aren't bloggers or political junkies, it's rank and file Democrats, and they're seeing no reason to turn out and vote. Those voters were promised some pretty basic items, and they delivered big for the Democratic Party -- super majorities and a White House landslide. Democrats pissed away their mandate with a series of corporate bailouts, but nothing for main street. The signature Democratic policy item -- health care -- has been hijacked by Lieberman, Lincoln, Baucus, Snowe, and Ben Nelson, to the detriment of pretty much everyone else, all with the full support of a "bipartisan" obsessed White House |
| Posted by: Beavis 2009-12-15 18:50 |