Republicans edge ahead in 'photo finish' for the Senate (UK VIEW)

The Daily Telegraph ^ | November 5, 2002 | Toby Harnden

[MadIvan]

Republican and Democrat leaders ended a last burst of campaigning yesterday as opinion polls gave President George W Bush's party the slimmest of edges in several key Senate contests.

Republicans were expected to strengthen their hold on the House of Representatives but Democrats remained confident that they could cling on to the Senate in an astonishingly close contest that could turn on a few thousand votes in a handful of states.

Charlie Cook, an independent pollster, said the Senate was going to be "an absolute photo finish" that could rival the 2000 presidential election and added: "I don't know if we've ever seen this many races that we're calling toss-ups."

If Democrats can get large numbers of blacks to the polls, as they did in 2000, that could win them key seats. But surveys have indicated that Republicans are marginally more fired up.

A Republican victory in both houses would be a triumph for Mr Bush and give him much greater flexibility to appoint conservative federal judges and drive through his agenda on Capitol Hill.

Mr Bush completed an exhausting five-day dash around the country with campaign visits to Iowa, Missouri, Arkansas, and his native Texas, all battleground states where the Senate race will be decided.

By campaigning so extensively, Mr Bush has made the elections partly about his own performance as president, although local factors will be more significant in most contests.

"A tight election means you can have a tremendous influence on who wins," Mr Bush said in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

It was important "to get people to the polls, to not only encourage them to vote but encourage them to vote for the right person" because "I want some allies in Congress to work with on key issues".

Democrats conceded that they had only an outside chance of winning back the House, where Republicans are defending a six-seat majority.

Boundary changes have put fewer than 20 of the 435 races in doubt. A CNN/USA Today Gallup poll gave Republican candidates narrow advantages in Missouri and South Dakota - both Democratic seats - and New Hampshire and Colorado, already Republican.

Democrats seemed poised to take Arkansas but were under pressure in Georgia and Minnesota. With Democrats going into the elections with a one-seat Senate advantage, Republican victories in Missouri and South Dakota could result in a switch of power.

[MadIvan]

It's crunch time. God bless America...and take away any power from the Democrats.

Regards, Ivan

[MadIvan]

Bump!

[cmsgop]

Thanks Buddy!

[alnick]

"A tight election means you can have a tremendous influence on who wins," Mr Bush said in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

GW is definitely a glass-is-half-full kinda guy. :-)

[Dog]

Thanks Ivan..!

Posse forms at dawn!

[Cool Guy]

Posse forms at dawn!

WE will be riding to victory by sunset.

[Z in Oregon]

Welcome to the New Republican Senate, Mr. Daschle! The people you see leaving the Senate chamber are the 500 judges we just confirmed!

[Utah Girl]

Wow, good news. Thanks for posting the article.

[alfa6]

An interesting take from across the pond. Thanks for the article.

Regards

alfa6 ;>}

[LaGrone]

Let's get every shoulder to the wheel and give a mighty push to get our candidates over the top.

Please vote and encourage others to vote for the Pubbies.

Best wishes and God Speed to all.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

I think you're on to something.

[TonyInOhio]

Thanks for the ping and the good wishes, friend. We hope to secure a majority tomorrow, and then on to better times!

[what's up]

Undecideds will vote Dem after seeing headlines like this all over the place today. They will figure they don't want the Repubs to get that far ahead so will vote Dem just to keep things more even.

Clever media tactics.

[MadIvan]

Undecideds will vote Dem after seeing headlines like this all over the place today

They won't. This was published in the UK.

Regards, Ivan

[Irene Adler]

I have been puzzled by just what Bush was doing in Cedar Rapids. Harkin and Vilsak(o'sh!t) are practically shoe-ins. So why did Bush stop here in Iowa?

[mountainfolk]

We just got back from a huge Arkansas rally for Hutchinson and Pres Bush gave a great speech saying he needs him for the senate as much as Arkansas needs him to be reelected. The crowd goes absolutely wild when airforce 1 lands and even more so when the pres enters the hangar. Hutchinson could win and if he loses to Pryor it will be a sad relapse for the state of Arkansas. Pryor winning would mean that the mindset that gave Clinton his political power is alive and well. The inevitable outcome will be corruption with never ending scandals. I hope and pray that Hutchinson wins.

[MadIvan]

The film clips I saw here suggested Bush was campaigning for people for the House. Is that more finely balanced?

Regards, Ivan

[KingKongCobra]

I doubt it. People are front runners, they like to be on the winning team. Undecideds should break our way so they can feel good about themselves.

[what's up]

Yes, but it's typical of American headlines all over the place today.

[NJJ]

If Democrats can get large numbers of blacks to the polls, as they did in 2000, that could win them key seats.

You've got to give them credit. They are so good they can raise the dead to vote.

Like I heard one of them say on TVlast night, "Do whatever it takes to get out the vote"!