Free Republic

<p>The Democrats will do well, particularly in gubernatorial contests unaffected by talk Of War, but they may not claim the Majority toward which they have been Moving, by fits and starts, since 1996. It won't be long, however Before the decade is over, the Democrats Will complete this journey, and the country will move from conservative Republican majority to a progressive Democratic one.</p>

In this autumn's elections, a tendency is in tension with a rarity. The party holding the presidency has lost House seats in 32 of the 34 off-year (nonpresidential) elections since the Civil War. So the Republicans' majority in a House divided 223-210 is in danger. But rarely do parties gain seats in four consecutive elections. Democrats gained in the last three. A SHIFT OF SIX SEATS would make Dick Gephardt speaker, but could make George W. Bush's re-election easier. He could blame Democratic control of Congress for all discontents. And if Democrats control both houses, re-electing Bush would satisfy the...