Republicans Resigned to Idea of Big Losses- NY Times

[Tom Joad]

WASHINGTON, Nov. 4 — The battle for Congress rolled into a climactic final weekend with Republican Party leaders saying the best outcome they could foresee was losing 12 seats in the House, but that they were increasingly resigned to losing at least 15 and therefore control of the House to Democrats for the first time in 12 years.

Democrats and Republicans said the battle over the Senate had grown fluid going into the final hours before the election Tuesday. Democrats said they thought they were almost certain to gain four or five seats and still had a shot at the six they need to take control. Republicans were pouring money into Senate races in Michigan and Maryland this weekend to take advantage of what they described as last-minute opportunities, however slight, in states currently held by Democrats.

Party strategists on both sides, speaking in interviews after they had finished doing their last polls and making their final purchases of television time, said they were running advertisements in more than 50 Congressional districts this weekend, far more than anyone thought would be in play at this stage.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/04/us/politics/04cnd-elect.html?hp&ex=1162702800&en=d65cda8b3e4dc408&ei=5094&partner=homepage

____________________________

A rare appreciation of reality from Republicans.

[bluestateguy]

1. Oh. It's Adam Nagourney.

nt

[roguenkatz]

2. Hey!

Reality really does have a liberal bias!

[maseman]

3. What people on DU forget

I understand all the committee power, subpeona power, legislation setting, etc. but even if the Dems don't take the Senate I will certainly take 4 or 5 seats. The Repukes have basically not been able to pass much legislation with a huge Senate majority in the past two years. What the hell could they do with a very slim majority? Even less.

The pendulum is swinging back and by far Shrub's man-date (or was that Haggard?) is gone. either way we'll send a very strong message to the Pukes. Go Dems!

[onehandle]

4. So relax, stop working for the party, and don't vote, Democrats.

Fat chance.

[Texifornia]

5. Not often talked about...

But very relevant is that the Democrats, in spite of being the minority in the Senate, have had to defend 18 seats this cycle to the Republican's 15 seats. A five seat pick-up (just short of what's needed) is an almost unbelieveable 1/3 of the available seats.

A six or even a Lieber-proof seven seats would be epic.

Oddly, the pick-up opportunities in the Senate mathmatically improve in 2008 and 2010.

[LaBanty]

6. If they really are resigned...

It would be the first time they've accepted reality since Dubya took over. They aren't big on reality, as a rule. You can beat them over the head with it, and they'll still deny the truth.

[colonel odis]

7. i'll believe it when i see it. they've got those diebold machines fixed, hacked,

and stacked against us.

there'll be looks of astonishment on the faces of the pundits. a "told-you-i'm really that smart" smile on rove's. and a smirk on bush's.

they'll be subtle about it. lots of close races. and probably some unexpected "upsets."

but they value their power way too much to let go of it.

[applegrove]

8. Thanks for the Post. n/t