Bob Benenson's Jigsaw Politics: GOP Incumbent Exodus Reflects -- and Abets -- Dems' Extending Majorities
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Lost in the fuss over next week's Super Tuesday presidential contests is the fact that the 2008 congressional campaign also has its official kickoff that day, with primaries in Illinois. Not that this event is being greeted with enthusiasm by many Republicans, who appear desperate to hold the White House to counteract the near-certain extension of the majorities Democrats won in both the Senate and the House in 2006.
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Rasmussen Reports - More than anything else, Fred Thompson&#39;s bounce in the polls last week highlights the extremely fluid nature of the race for the Republican Presidential nomination. Unlike their counterparts in the Democratic Party, there is absolutely no clear frontrunner for the GOP. In fact, as time has gone on, things have become ever less clear.
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A Potomac primaries sweep suggests his coalition is broad, motivated and may be pushing the GOP electorate to the right
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Senate Democrats were more unified than their Republican counterparts during the first half-year of the current 110th Congress, sticking together with greater frequency on votes that are closely divided along party lines Ã¢ÂÂ a key finding of CQPolitics.comÃ¢ÂÂs latest analysis of lawmakersÃ¢ÂÂ Ã¢ÂÂparty unityÃ¢ÂÂ scores.
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The Republican race heads south as a complete jumble.
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His inclusive approach is the way to go. But his party's failure to follow his lead is offering the Democrats an enormous political opportunity.
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Republicans added US Senate seats in Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina and replaced a retiring Republican in Oklahoma. Democrats claimed a seat in Illinois.
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How do the Democratic and Republican hopefuls size up the key issues of the campaign?
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For Saturday's crucial primary, the GOP candidates are busy reframing the issues and shoring up their conservative credentials
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In their new role as the House majority, the Democrats so far this year have shown overwhelming unity on legislative votes. There are some exceptions, though Ã¢ÂÂ and they mostly come from members of the big and decisive House Class of 2006 who prevailed last year in politically competitive districts and could face difficult re-election contests in 2008.
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Christian conservatives, traditionally a reliable Republican constituency, aren't necessarily a GOP gimme this time around. There is an undercurrent of concern that some evangelicals, unhappy that the GOP-led Congress and President Bush haven't paid more attention to gay marriage and other "values" issues, may stay home on Election Day or even vote Democratic.
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At times it was hard to tell who was the Democrat and who was the Republican in what has shaped up as one of the most important Senate races in the country.
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Each of Super Tuesday's main survivors pledges, if elected, to reach across party lines and bring the nation together. It's a familiar but often futile promise, leaving Americans to wonder if divisiveness will again prevail or if Â just maybe Â a window is open for a more civil, constructive era.
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Republican Party strategists, even under expected circumstances, knew they faced a difficult imbalance in the 2008 lineup of Senate races. The GOP have 21 seats to defend to just 12 for the Democrats.
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The presidential race isn't the only important election this year. At least 470 congressional seats will be up for grabs in November, with Democrats hoping to expand their narrow majorities and crack some of the impasses that have stymied action on many issues.
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Republicans narrowed the gap in party allegiance among registered voters during the past election year.
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The Democrats are facing a long and possibly divisive nomination battle after Super Tuesday, while Republicans are closer to an opportunity to rally around a nominee.