Posted on 07/11/2010 1:57:11 PM PDT by SandRat
President Barack Obama's party could lose its House majority in this fall's elections, his spokesman said Sunday, perhaps trying to jolt Democratic voters with the specter of GOP lawmakers rolling back White House policies.
"I think there's no doubt there are enough seats in play that could cause Republicans to gain control. There's no doubt about that," press secretary Robert Gibbs told NBC's "Meet the Press."
Democrats now hold a 255-178 edge in the House, with two vacancies in the 435-member chamber. Anywhere from 40 to perhaps 60 House seats could be competitive by the fall. Republicans would need to take back about 40 seats to slip into the majority, placing the current GOP leader, Ohio Rep. John Boehner, in line to replace Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., as speaker.
Those House Democrats who won election for the first time in 2008 in conservative leaning districts as part of the Obama wave are particularly vulnerable this fall, given that the president is not on the ballot.
Gibbs said retaining House control would depend on strong campaigns by Democrats. "I think we have to take the issues to them," he said, adding that the primary argument would be how Republicans would govern as the majority party.
His remarks could be intended to light a fire under Democrats who are dispirited after about 18 months of Obama's presidency and motivate them to work hard to maintain their majorities in both the House and Senate. The party in power typically loses seats in the first midterm elections under a president, and Democrats are defending a slew of districts they picked up in 2006 and 2008.
The White House also could be working to lower expectations in case Democrats do lose the House majority.
Gibbs hit again on points that Obama has touched on in recent fundraising appearances: Texas Rep. Joe Barton's apology to BP for being pushed to set up a $20 billion fund for damages from the Gulf oil spill and Boehner's remark that suggested the effort to regulate Wall Street in the wake of the financial meltdown was tantamount to "killing an ant with a nuclear weapon."
"I think that's a perfect window not into what people are thinking but the way they would govern," Gibbs said. "Joe Barton, John Boehner, those are the types of things you'll hear a lot I think from both the president and from local candidates about what you'll get if the Republicans were to gain control."
Not could, WILL. How bad will be seen.
Why can’t we just throw both the Dems and GOP and let two new parties form over the next cycle or so?
Bus’ll need jackin’ up again, Bammy.
Forgot the “out”.
You Betcha!!
I hope this isn’t a ploy to lull conservatives into overconfidence.
With solutions come new problems. Those House Democrats who won election for the first time in 2008 in conservative leaning districts as part of the Obama wave are particularly vulnerable this fall, given that the president is not on the ballot.
They are better off that way. Right now leprosy is more popular than Barack Obama.
Got to keep the fires stoked up High and completely singe the hair off the Donkey.
When you have seats in Oregon in serious play this will be over 100.
Pray for America
If they are admitting this the internal polls must be worse than we know.
I found a very interesting screen grab from the ‘08 campaign
if 0bami says he didn’t have ties to the New Black Panther Party
then he forgot to erase these from his website fast enough.
http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x73/doubleplusundeadmeenu/BlackPantherRacism.jpg
This is a ploy to rally the commies to get off their duffs!!
Let’s hope the Senate is in play too so with the new Congress we can start to repeal Obama’s socialism if not impeach the Kenyan impostor.
It’s ironic, since the Democrat strategy is to pay people to STAY on their duffs. Live by the couch potato, die by the couch potato?
Even if it is - and with the expectation of Dem. voter fraud - conservatives must work harder and get out more voters than during past off-year elections. Conservatives must not fall prey to overconfidence or voter fraud!
Everyone, work hard and get out there and vote!
Vote! Only stop when you and all your acquaintances have sent the miscreants packing. Do not believe anything the LIB/DIM moonbats say. Ever.
No Shit! Geez, are these folks that dense!
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