The End is Near: With a week before the general election, John S. McCain, III (R-AZ) and the Republican Party are bracing themselves for a political wipe out that rivals the 2006 and 1994. With the exception of Pennsylvania, the campaign for the White House is being fought exclusively in states previously won by President George W. Bush (R-TX). Polls indicated Barack H. Obama (D-IL) holding a consistent lead nationally and in enough states to assure a victory when the electoral college meets in December.
Incrimination has begun to sink into the GOP campaign with Vice Presidential nominee Sarah Palin (R-AK) hoping to break free from her handlers.
Democrats are poised not only to win the presidency but also increase their lead in both chambers of Congress. At this point, not a single Democratic held seat in the U.S. Senate is endangered of switch party control. U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA) appears safe in her re-election. State Treasurer John N. Kennedy (R-LA) may be regretting his decision to switch parties. Three of the five Senate seats being vacated by Republicans are almost certain to be won by Democrats. Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Mark Udall (D-CO) and Thomas "Tom" Udall (D-NM) could be caught measuring their new offices for drapes and still win their perspective elections. Eight incumbent Republicans are endangered of losing their elections. Most polls are already predicting defeat for John E. Sununu (R-NH), Norm Coleman (R-MN) and Gordon H. Smith (R-OR). Theodore F. "Ted" Stevens's (R-AK) re-election hinges more on the decision on twelve jurors in Washington than voters in Alaska. In addition, Elizabeth Dole (R-NC), C. Saxby Chambliss (R-GA), Roger F. Wicker (R-MS) and even Senate Minority Leader A. Mitchell "Mitch" McConnell (R-KY) are in closer than expected contests. In short Democrats are likely to pick-up a minimum of four Senate seats and have an outside chance of picking up the nine seats needed to prevent any filibuster. If they sweep the board they could pick up eleven seats, enough to dominate the U.S. Senate even without the two independent Senators. D.C.'s Political Report is currently prediction that the Democrats will pick up eight seats.
Things are not much better in the U.S. House of Representatives for Republicans. In addition to the 33 seats the Democrats picked up in the 2006 election and subsequent special elections, Democrats are looking at a gain of between 24 and 36 additional seats. Only one of the eight House seats being vacated by Democrats is even competitive, while nineteen of the twenty-nine open GOP seats could be lost. Another two dozen incumbent Republicans are facing possible defeat. Unlike 2006 when Republicans failed to pick off any incumbent Democrats, the GOP might pick up seats in California, Texas, Pennsylvania and almost certainly in Florida. These bright spots for the Republicans however will be few and fair between.
The one bright spot for the GOP is in gubernatorial races. While Democrats are likely to pick up Governor's Mansion in Missouri, Republicans are competitive in North Carolina and have an outside chance of defeating incumbent Christine O. Gregoire (D-WA) in Washington.
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Poll Updates: Updated poll information has been posted. New polls were posted in the following contests:
Arizona Presidential
Arkansas Presidential
Iowa Presidential
Iowa Senate
Georgia Presidential
Missouri Presidential
New Hampshire Presidential
New Hampshire Senate
New Hampshire Governor
New Hampshire 1st District
New Hampshire 2nd District
Pennsylvania Presidential
South Dakota Presidential
South Dakota Senate
Tennessee Presidential
Tennessee Senate
Virginia Presidential
West Virginia Presidential
Wisconsin Presidential
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National Presidential polls.
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