Posted on 11/04/2002 4:39:48 AM PST by publius1
Edited on 05/26/2004 5:10:13 PM PDT by Jim Robinson. [history]
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
November 4, 2002 -- IN a number of key U.S. Senate contests, it appears that Democrats have gained a decisive advantage in their efforts to expand their lead in the upper chamber. According to polling completed Saturday night by John Zogby (the most accurate of published pollsters), Senate contests in Arkansas, Colorado, Minnesota, New Jersey and South Dakota have moved sharply toward the Democratic candidates in recent days. Here's the rundown:
Arkansas: Democrat Mark Pryor has gone from a 45-45 tie against GOP incumbent Tim Hutchinson to a decisive 55-44 advantage. Pryor, the son of former Arkansas Sen. and Gov. David Pryor, has capitalized on Hutchinson's apparent hypocrisy in leaving his wife to marry a young member of his staff while advocating family values as a conservative Senator.
Colorado: In a rematch of their contest six years ago, Democrat Tom Strickland has broken out of a 41-40 tie to amass a 53-44 lead over Republican incumbent Wayne Allard.
South Dakota: Endangered Democratic incumbent Tim Johnson appears to have salvaged his seat from a strong challenge by Republican Congressman John Thune. Trailing 43-45 two weeks ago, Johnson now leads by a comfortable 52-47.
Minnesota: Despite the pep rally at Sen. Paul Wellstone's funeral, Walter Mondale has clung to a 50-45 lead over the GOP's Norm Coleman.
New Jersey: Ex-Sen. Frank Lautenberg, part of a new crop of Democratic elderly retreads, has opened up a 54-38 lead over incompetent Republican challenger Doug Forrester.
Missouri: Democratic incumbent Jean Carnahan has stormed back from a 41-47 deficit to take a 49-48 razor-thin lead over GOP Rep. Jim Talent. She could still lose, but she's in strong shape.
There are a few bright spots for Republicans. Elizabeth Dole has taken a decisive 52-46 lead in her battle to hold the GOP seat in North Carolina. In Georgia, Republican Rep. Saxby Chambliss is locked in an unexpected 49-49 tie with Democratic incumbent Max Clelland.
On the other hand, the possible GOP upset in Georgia is offset by a late Democratic surge in Texas, where the GOP seat is endangered by a massive gain by Democrat Ron Kirk who is now at 48 percent nipping on the heels of Republican Attorney General John Cronyn. New Hampshire is also too close to call, as Democratic Gov. Jeanne Shaheen holds a narrow lead over Republican Rep. JohnE. Sununu in the battle for this GOP seat.
So . . . Democrats are poised to pick up seats in Arkansas and Colorado. They might take seats in Texas and New Hampshire. Except for a possible upset in Georgia, the Republicans aren't likely to come up with any Democratic scalps.
What went wrong for the Republicans?
They don't have any issues after Clinton cut welfare and crime. Voters are mad about Wall Street's shenanigans and worried about the economy's doldrums.
And President Bush lost the sense of urgency he had generated about Iraq in September by miring himself in U.N. negotiations with France. Bush's popularity dropped as he appeared to be too much of a politician and too little of a wartime leader in recent weeks
A day is a lifetime in politics. Everything could change. Zogby could be wrong (unlikely). Or . . . the Democrats could spank the GOP on Tuesday.
P.S.: Remember how Clinton lost Congress in 1994 and the resulting Republican arrogance led them to so alienate America that the president won re-election in a walk two years later? Could history repeat itself?
Oh, so that's what that was -- "Republican arrogance." I guess the OKC bombing, Clinton demagoguery, and the media hate campaign had nothing to do with it.
If he wants to wear his piety on his sleeve, well then, he's gotta walk the walk. He didn't, I guess.
Wednesday morning his diet will change..........
he'll be eatin crow!!
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Nothing to do with the quality of his falling down opponent?
Colin Powell would have sent the big creep limping back to his trailer park in Little Rocks.
No need to watch him tonight on Hannity and really get the blood boiling. You now know what he is going to say anyway and, already, it is passe information.
Watch, get mad as all getout, then vote and encourage others to do the same. (Doesn't apply if you are already 100% committed to voting.)
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