The Republicans will continue to lose ground as long as they continue to ignore the conservative wing of their party (the largest portion of the party, BTW). The Repubs have been running away from the Contract with America since '95, and, not surprisingly, have been losing seats in Congress ever since.
Conservatives gave the Republicans the edge, and they will take it away in the fall because they'll stay home on election day. What, exactly, does a conservative candidate have to run on? Smaller government? Ha! The GOP is as guilty of the growth in government as the Dems were (and are). What issue this year is going to move a conservative voter to the polls? I can't think of many, because the GOP is completely ignoring the conservative wing of the party.
They aren't called the "Stupid Party" for nothing.
You can argue all day long about sticking to Conservative Principles, but the RATS always have a solid 50% of the female vote, and the younger and more motivated the woman, it seems to me, the more likely she is to buy the "EVIL of BUSINESS" story. This is quite amazing even amnong businesswomen, who for freep's sake, ought to know better.
Add to this solid 50% + or -, the 90% plus pluralities among certain urban ethnic groups upon which the Democrats can usually rely. Shake well. Now throw in massive voter fraud which worked well enough to make Al Gore appear to have been in a very close race for Electoral College votes, when in an honest count he would have had his left-drooping posterior very soundly kicked from one end of the country to the other.
Worry? The Stupid Party should be shaking in its shoes. The well-oiled, leftward-leaning media machines are now orchestrating a very coordinated message for The Evil Party: "Republican Capitalist Pig evil-doers in Big Business have wrecked their companies, thrown thousands in the street, stolen their pensions, and screwed the stockmarket." Get used to it. You are going to hear this, read it and watch it on the boob-tube until Election Day.
In the face of this onslaught, The Republicans offer no rebuttal. Even if we had one, who would deliver it? Who would publish it? Who would coordinate it with the candidates and their election teams in the same professional and organized manner of the Democrats, who after all, have the media in their pockets already?
Bush? Popular as hot dogs. But unless he gets cracking, his coat tails will never cover the seats of the Stupid Party.
Want to pick up seats? Start fighting now, with the Bush guy out in front swinging, calling Democrats what they are. Get that female vote, a 5% shift there would be an earthquake!