The media and the Republicans do NOT represent the average American. They don't know what the average American is thinking and they don't know how the average American will vote.
That's why the Reps lost 5 Senate seats and control of the Senate in 2000.
In 2002 the Dems so far have lost 2 seats.
Wrong. After 9/11, the Dems are clueless as to the changes in the American psyche. That has become quite apparant as they try to saddle Homeland Defense with job-protection provisions, and waffle on the Iraq resolutions, and continue to engage in the inane liberal activity of denying that the United States has the right to protect itself. Before 9/11, that trait was simply annoying. Now it is dangerous, and the voters spoke accordingly.
That's why the Reps lost 5 Senate seats and control of the Senate in 2000. In 2002 the Dems so far have lost 2 seats.
Let's put the two into perspective. In 1988, Reagan managed to hand off the office to his Vice President. In 2000, Clinton failed. The economy was still reasonably good, so the GOP should have gotten stomped. Instead, they took the White House and were only prevented from control of the Senate by the shenannigans in Missouri and Jefford's switch.
Now, fast forward to 2002. A weak economy. A historic trend for the party in the White House to suffer significant losses in off-year elections. Put the two together, and the GOP should have gotten stomped. Instead, the GOP made modest but critical gains, and at 51-48, they should be switch-proof.
You can spin this all you want by ignoring those inconvenient facts. But the truth is, the Dems screwed-up big time - by clinging to an anti-American philosophy that should have been discarded after 9/11.