MID-TERM ELECTIONS: GAME CHANGING POTENTIAL FOR DEMOCRATS
The upcoming US mid-term elections have the potential of changing the game for the Obama Administration. A possible shift in control in congress could threaten the President’s agenda – so every vote counts.
With President Barack Obama half way through his first term in office, the US Mid-term Elections will be held on November 2. At that time 435 members of the House of Representatives will be up for election. In addition, one-third of the Senate — or 34 Senators — will be elected, and 37 State Governors will be on the ballots. A number of local issues will also be up for consideration in state elections.
If history repeats itself, the odds can favor Republican gains in the House and Senate. The party in power usually loses seats, but the mid-terms are also seen as a referendum of the sitting President and his party.
HOUSE: CONTINUED CONTROL?
Polls indicate that 164 House seats are solid Democrat and another 64 are leaning Democratic with some 30 seats too close to call. Democrats now hold 257 seats, 39 seats more than the minimum needed for control. If Republicans were to pick up the high side of the 20-to-50 seats that some polls now predict, that could mean a shift of control in the House of Representatives that would threaten the President’s agenda.
However, a recent New York Times/CBS poll indicates that Americans feel President Obama better understands their needs and problems and has made more of an effort to be bipartisan than Congressional Republicans. So that may help counter balance some of the normal drop for the party in power.
SENATE: A MORE UNSTABLE BALANCE?
In the Senate, the current balance is 57 Democrats, 41 Republican and 2 independents who caucus with the Democrats. Current polls indicate that of the 36 Senate seats that are up for election, 7 are solidly Democrat and four are leaning Democratic. On the Republican side 12 are solid and 8 are leaning Republican. Five of the 36 seats are up for grabs.
Any shift in power to the Republicans will make it even more difficult to bring desired legislation to the Senate floor.
WHAT ABOUT THE STATES?
Gubernatorial elections will also be held on November 2nd –37 states and two territories will hold elections for governor. Currently 20 seats are held by Democrat incumbents and 19 are held by Republican incumbents. Polls indicate that 3 of the Democratic Governorships are safe, and 5 are leaning Democratic. Five of the Republican seats are safe and 9 are leaning Republican – with 15 governorships that are up for grabs. So a lot is at stake in the various state governments as well in the mid-term elections.
YOUR VOTE COUNTS !
A heavy Democratic turnout of those energized to vote for the first time in the 2008 elections, might turn the tide, making it easier for President Obama to carry out his agenda. This is what the Democratic National Committee is calling its 50-State Strategy.
The President and the Democratic Party are committed to keeping the nation safe and expanding opportunity for every American. That commitment is reflected in an agenda that emphasizes strong economic growth, an overhaul of regulations governing the financial industry, affordable health care for all American, and freeing ourselves from oil dependency through the investment in renewable, alternative energies. It also focuses on ending the war in Iraq while refocusing our efforts on dealing with the post-September 11 world; protecting the environment, and working for open, honest and accountable government.
Elections are often won on a narrow margin, so every vote counts, and organizing voter registration and voting from abroad can push the game-changing potential of the mid-term elections in the right direction.