GOP's Presence in Washington Shrinking Fast

ARTICLE SYNOPSIS:

Two recent interim elections for vacant House seats should have been won by Republicans. But Democrats took both and forecasts for the fall elections expect many more GOP losses.
Follow this link to the original source: "Democrats Call Victory a Sign G.O.P. Tactic Failed"

COMMENTARY:

Two months ago, the Illinois seat held for many years by former House Speaker Dennis Hastert went to a Democrat in a special election. It hadn't been in Democratic hands in decades.

Early in May, a special election in Louisiana saw popular conservative Republican Woody Jenkins lose his bid for the seat vacated by Republican Richard Baker, who resigned to become a lobbyist. Jenkins lost 49-46 percent to Democrat Don Cazayoux in a closely watched race. The seat had been in GOP hands for 30 years. President Bush won reelection in 2004 with a 59 percent plurality in this very district. Baker likely saw the handwriting on the wall and skedaddled.

Because these two House seats had been considered GOP strongholds, national Republican leaders are quietly expressing deep concerns about what will happen in November. Democrats now control the House by 235-198. To recapture control of the House, the GOP will have to take 20 Democrat seats, win more than two dozen races where their own party members have retired, and avoid losses by their incumbents.

This is a very tall order at a time when party leader George W. Bush is suffering the lowest approval rating held by a president in memory. Voters everywhere are turning away from the GOP because of the economy's steep decline, the never-ending war, failure to deal with the immigration problem, and more.

GOP leaders hope that John McCain's presence at the top of their ticket in November will boost their sagging prospects. But many voters are aware that McCain is famous for teaming with liberal Democrats in legislation he has backed. The names of prominent Democrats with whom he collaborated include Kennedy (immigration), Feingold (restrictions on campaigning), Lieberman (climate change), and Edwards (patient's bill of rights). He has regularly been more comfortable working with Democrats than with fellow Republicans. Several years ago, he even sent his top aide to discuss with Democratic leaders his possible switch to their party.

All in all, the GOP's prospects for holding on to what they currently have are slim and losing more ground looks very likely. Democrats from coast to coast are ecstatic.