The talking filibuster made its return to the front pages as Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) took to the Senate floor yesterday to block a vote on President Obama’s nomination of John Brennan to head the CIA.  It was a rare show of bipartisanship as Paul received support from fellow Republicans and a Democrat as he sought to bring attention to the use of unmanned drones and to find out if the government would use drones in the United States.  Just before noon on Wednesday, Paul began his filibuster saying, “I will speak until I can no longer speak.”  As it turns out, that was quite a while, finally ceding the floor at about 12:40 a.m. on Thursday.  All told, Paul spoke without leaving the floor of the Senate for almost 13 hours.

Of late, Senators tend to favor the threat of filibuster or use of Senate rules to block legislation rather than an epic talking filibuster like Paul’s.  The last lengthy filibuster was in 2010, when Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) spoke for more than 8 hours to oppose a tax-cut plan proposed by President Obama.  Today, to end a filibuster, a device known as cloture, requires 60 votes, but by talking and only yielding the floor for questions, Paul was able to keep going.

Speaking for almost 13 hours should be a record, shouldn’t it?  Although the talking filibuster has rarely been used in recent years, it has a long, storied past.  The longest filibuster on record belongs to Senator Strom Thurmond of South Carolina, clocking in at 24 hours, 18 minutes.  Thurmond sought to block civil rights legislation in 1957.  In addition to Thurmond, Senators Alfonse D’Amato (D-NY) and Wayne Morse (I-OR) both exceeded the 22 hour mark.  Senators Robert M. La Follette, Sr. (R-WI) and William Proxmire (D-WI) filibustered for more than 18 hours and 16 hours, respectively.  While he didn’t set any records, Senator Paul garnered national attention and managed to bring attention to the use of drones, even though it is unlikely this filibuster will keep Brennan from being confirmed.

26

The 2010 and 2011 elections at the state legislative level saw dramatic changes for control of the 99 state legislative chambers across the country. A total of 26 state legislative chambers moved away from Democrat control to either outright Republican control or a tied chamber. The 2012 Recall Elections in Wisconsin resulted in a change from Republican to Democrat control.

We will be closely watching to see how many of these 26 (plus a few others) move back to Democrat control or even become more Republican following the 2012 General Election. Overall, the GOP improved their chances at the state legislative level as a result of redistricting.

Both State Chamber Changed – AL, LA, ME, MN, NC, NH & WI
State Senate Only Changes – AK, NY, & VA
State Lower Chamber Only Changes – CO, IA, IN, MI, MS, MT, OH, OR, PA

While most of the media attention last night was on the GOP presidential contest in Florida, the first congressional race of 2012 was being waged in the Special Election to fill the Oregon 1 vacancy. In a contest that exceeded 40% voter turnout, former State Senator Suzanne Bonamici (D) defeated businessman Rob Cornilles (R) in an expensive and heated contest to succeed David Wu (D), who resigned the seat August 3, 2011.

Making sure that an upset similar to the NY-9 Special Election last September where Bob Turner (R) surprised David Weprin (D), the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) poured a reported $1.5 million into TV ads supporting Bonamici to ensure that a seat that has been held by Democrats since the 1974 election remained Democrat controlled.

OR-1 Special Election Results:

Congresswoman-elect Bonamici served in the Oregon State Senate from 2008 to 2011, resigning the seat on November 21 following her primary election victory. Bonamici had also won an open seat contest for the Oregon House in 2006. Bonamici has now been on the ballot five of the last six years.

Both candidates ran strong primary contests in multi-candidate fields that set up the Special Election. Cornilles was defeated by Wu in 2010. The district consists of five counties in northwest Oregon, with Washington County (southwest Portland, Beaverton) accounting for over 63% of the vote cast. The special election was run under the “old” maps and Bonamici will have to run under the “new” redistricted maps in November.

When Bonamici is sworn into Congress, Republicans will control the U.S. House by a 242-192 margin. With the recent resignation of Rep. Giffords (D), the AZ-8 seat is now the lone vacant seat in the House.

We have tagged this election cycle is the “R Cycle.”  R, as in Reapportionment, Redistricting, Recall, Referendum and Recount.  In Part 1 last week, we focused in on recall elections and gave you some history of recalls around the country.  This week we will focus on where recall election activity, successful or not, is likely to occur.

Who’s next?  The Wisconsin story will not be a one-and-done story this year.  Efforts are already under way in several states either to gather signatures for recall elections or to allow recall elections.  There are efforts well under way in the battleground state of Ohio, which currently does not have recall elections, for a referendum that would allow for recall elections.  Do you think Ohio Governor John Kasich has called Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker about recall elections?

Florida is another state that is always in the spotlight in presidential election years.  Efforts to get recall elections approved for statewide officials, particularly targeting new Governor Rick Scott is gaining momentum from labor union and Democratic leaning groups.

One point that must cross our minds at this point is that this is looking a lot like the beginnings of a national effort.  The  efforts to use recall elections, referendums and court challenges appear to have moved well past the occasional interesting tool in American politics to a tool that in many states will just be part of never ending campaign to win the issue fight with a groups on selected/elected officeholders.

Several other states should anticipate strong discussion, activity and even a recall election in the near future.  Here are some of the stronger possibilities:

Those who support efforts to create jobs, grow the private sector and champion free enterprise must now be ready in nearly every state at all times for a permanent election cycle whether it is at the traditional ballot box or through a recall or referendum effort.  The effort to change who holds an elected office, control of a legislative body or the outcome of an issue is no longer solely fought at the ballot box in November or during a legislative session, but can now go from start to end in just 30, 60, 90, 120 days and begin any day of any year.

Another way to interpret the current events of Wisconsin is to consider them to be the first move of Recall Election Chess for 2011-2012.  Ohio, Florida, Pennsylvania consider yourself to be on the clock.

This election cycle is the “R Cycle.”  R, as in Reapportionment, Redistricting, Recall, Referendum and Recount.

When we compile some sort of top ten political stories for the 2011-2012 election cycle, each of these “R’s” will likely occupy several slots on the list.  Reapportionment and the rapidly changing demographics of cities/rural areas/states/regions will have a tremendous impact on policy and elections in the future.  Redistricting comes at a time when voters are more upset with the selfishness and partisanship of elected bodies that will be undertaking the most self-centered act of all in any ten-year period.  The storylines on the referendums and recounts have not played out yet, but there are plenty of early indicators that those subjects will be major stories this cycle too.  That leaves us with the one “R’ I want to focus on right now – recall elections

One of those slots on that top ten political stories list will certainly be Wisconsin and their divisive Supreme Court election from last week and the possible recount that will follow.  The energizing of grassroots networks around the country in key states will have its origins in this election battle and the many impending recall elections fought in Wisconsin as a result of the labor union issue debates at the statehouse.

With the recent and ongoing events in Wisconsin, we very well may be looking at engaging in two simultaneous election cycles.  One that is the traditional two-year cycle that culminates on the first Tuesday following the first Monday in November of the even numbered year.  The second cycle being an ongoing effort to redo the last election or issue fight via recall and referendum elections.

While not exactly new, it appears the use of recall elections (a procedure, usually by signature petition, that allows voters to remove a public official from office prior to serving their full term) is going to be used with increased frequency in an era where elected officials find it more difficult by the day to effectively govern.  While, according to recall election researcher and Wagner College’s Joshua Spivak, recall elections appeared in Colonial America and were debated at the Constitutional Convention in 1787, the first statute was passed at the local level by Los Angeles, CA in 1903 and at the state level by Oregon in 1908.  The Oregon effort was spearheaded by a Progressive originally from Wisconsin, former Populist Party State Representative William S. U’Ren.  U’Ren organized the labor unions, the Farmer’s Alliance, the editor of the Portland Oregonian and others to put the issue before voters as a referendum.

The upcoming Wisconsin Senate recall elections will go down as the biggest recall election in the U.S. since California Governor Grey Davis was recalled/defeated by Arnold Schwarzenegger in October 2003.  While none of them ever resulted in a recall election being held, Schwarzenegger faced seven recall election attempts while governor.  The only other recall of a statewide elected official was in North Dakota in 1921 when the Governor, Attorney General and the Commissioner of Agriculture were all recalled.  Two years later the recalled Governor, Lynn Frazier, was elected to the U.S. Senate.

Millions of dollars, from multiple fronts, was spent on the Wisconsin contest with more to come over the next couple of months as nineteen different campaign committees have filed recall efforts against sixteen different members of the Wisconsin Senate (eight Republican/eight Democratic).  Wisconsin state law does not allow for recall of a Governor until they have served one year and you can bet that next January Governor Scott Walker will be facing a well-funded recall attempt.

With so much volatility in American politics over the last year (Republicans gained control of 22 legislative chambers plus the U.S. House) and continued economic difficulties, the American public and organizations with their backs against the wall are more than willing to explore alternatives to solve problems to passing legislation and putting into office those who will support their viewpoint – or remove those who oppose their cause.  This means recall elections, court challenges, and referendums. Recall and referendum elections have created an unpredictable and never-ending election cycle.  If one side doesn’t like the outcome of an election, fight for a “do over.”  If you don’t like the result in the legislature, go to an issue referendum to go around the legislature or go to court to seek your desired outcome.  This appears to be the new way to play the game and, over time, will likely continue to erode the public’s confidence in the electoral process.

Currently, nineteen states (AK, AZ, CA, CO, GA, ID, IL, KS, LA, MI, MN, MO, NV, NJ, ND, OR, RI, WA, WI) plus the District of Columbia have the ability to remove state officials via a recall process.  Virginia’s recall process results in a recall trail with a circuit court deciding the outcome.  In every other state, a recall election by voters is conducted.  Illinois allows recall elections only for Governor.  While unlikely to be allowed and thrown out by a federal court, New Jersey and Wisconsin law permit the recall of Congressman.  Many other states also have also allowed for the recall of local officials.

Why Wisconsin?  The Wisconsin GOP had arguably the best November and December to close out 2010 of any state party.  In the November Election, they won control back in the State Assembly (House of Representatives), the State Senate, the Governor’s office, two seats in the U.S. House and a U.S. Senate seat.  Following the elections, Wisconsin GOP Chairman Reince Priebus was elected as the Chairman of the Republican National Committee and Rep. Paul Ryan was tapped to be the Chairman of the House Budget Committee.  With all of the electoral success and a contentious legislative session focused on labor issues, Wisconsin became target #1.

Who’s next?  The Wisconsin story will not be a one-and-done story this year.  Efforts are already under way in several states either to gather signatures for recall elections or to allow recall elections.  There are efforts well under way in the battleground state of Ohio, which currently does not have recall elections, for a referendum that would allow for recall elections.  Do you think Ohio Governor John Kasich has called Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker about recall elections?

Find out who is on the recall election clock in part 2.  I will provide an informative map and highlight several other states that should anticipate strong discussion, activity and even a recall election in the near future.

Data from Joshua Spivak, Senior Fellow at the Hugh L. Carey Institute for Government Reform of Wagner College, National Conference of State Legislatures, and Wikipedia was used to compile this story.

Before we cover the impact the 2010 election will have on congressional redistricting, let’s better understand the dramatic changes that occurred in the state legislatures since this is where the redistricting process is conducted in all but seven states (AZ, CA, HI, ID, MT, NJ and WA).  Of the remaining forty-three states, six states (AK, DE, ND, SD, VT and WY) have only one at large congressional seat, leaving us with thirty-seven states with multiple congressional districts where the state legislature controls the redistricting process.

Highlights of the remarkable shifts at the state legislative level as a result of the election:

• Twenty-five states now have both the House and Senate controlled by the Republicans.  Nineteen states controlled by the Democrats.  Five states now have divided control (AK, IA, KY, NY & VA).  Nebraska has a nonpartisan legislature.  Prior to the election, nine states had divided control.
• Either nineteen or twenty state legislative chambers switched party control to Republicans.
• Six states saw both chambers switch party control (AL, ME, MN, NH, NC & WI).
• Five states moved from divided control to both chambers being Republican controlled (IN, MI, MT, OH & PA).
• Two additional states, and possibly three, moved from Democrat to divided control (IA & CO).  The New York Senate is still undecided, but likely to switch to Republican control.
• At least fifteen states saw at least one legislative chamber move away from Democratic control.
• No legislative chamber switched to Democratic control.
• According to the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), Republicans gained at least 675 state legislative seats across the country.
• Republicans had a net gain of five Governor’s offices and now hold twenty-nine of the offices while Democrats have twenty and one Independent.

At the end of this year, the U.S. Census Bureau will conclude the decennial counting process and submit, by the end of February, the information to the state legislatures so they can play political cartographer with state legislative and congressional district boundaries.  I will continue to argue that during any ten-year period there is no single issue legislators selfishly think is more important and will fight harder on than redistricting. Unfortunately, this comes at the expense of concentrating on sound fiscal policies or improving on a tattered atmosphere in need of greater bi-partisanship.

As there is following every new census and reapportionment, there will be changes in the number of congressional seats awarded to each state.  By far, the biggest winner will be Texas, which is projected to gain four seats to give it thirty-six seats.  Florida will also be a big winner, picking up two seats.  Six additional states will each gain one seat (AZ, GA, NV, SC, UT & WA).

Ten states offset the eight states that gained a total of twelve seats.  New York and Ohio are both projected to lose two seats each.  New York will drop to twenty-seven seats and Ohio to sixteen seats.  Eight states are projected to lose one seat each (IL, IA, LA, MA, MI, MO, NJ & PA).  Of note are that ten seats lost come from a state on one of the Great Lakes or along the Mississippi River.

The breakdown of where the Republicans will be in full control or control two out of the three areas in the redistricting process:

• Republicans have control of the House, Senate and Governor’s Office in sixteen states (this counts NC where the Governor has no part in the process).  These sixteen states total 193 congressional districts.
  (AL, FL, GA, IN, KS, ME, MI, NC, OH, OK, PA, SC, TN, TX, UT, WI)
• Republicans currently hold five at large congressional seats that are not affected by redistricting (AK, MT, ND, SD & WY).
• Republicans have control of the House and Senate with a Democrat Governor in three states (MN, MO & NH).  These states total eighteen congressional districts.
• There are two additional states (IA & VA) with split legislative control and a Republican Governor.  These two states total fifteen congressional districts.
• Nebraska has a unicameral legislature with a Republican Governor and has three congressional districts.
• Republicans are in full control or have an advantage in twenty-seven states that will be drawing 234 congressional districts.

The breakdown of where the Democrats will be in full control or control two out of the three areas in the redistricting process:

• Democrats have control of the House, Senate and Governor’s Office in seven states (AR, CT, HI, IL, MA, MD & WV).  These seven states total forty-nine congressional districts and counts CT where the Governor has no part in the process.
• Democrats currently control two at large congressional seats that are not affected by redistricting (DE & VT).
• Democrats have control of the House and Senate with a Republican Governor in four states (LA, MS, NM & NV) and an Independent Governor in RI.  These states total nineteen congressional districts.
• There are three additional states (CO, KY & OR) with split legislative control and a Democrat Governor.  These three states total eighteen congressional districts.
• While the New York Senate is undecided, the House and Governor is Democrat.  Following reapportionment, New York will have twenty-seven seats.
• Democrats are in full control or have an advantage in seventeen states that will be drawing 115 congressional districts.

Five states have a commission that will determine the congressional districts in their state (AZ, CA, ID, NJ & WA).  These five states total eighty-six congressional districts.  Montana also has a commission, but is an at-large congressional district. Nine of the twelve gains due to reapportionment occur in five states that the redistricting process is completely controlled by the Republicans (FL, GA, SC, TX & UT).

Looking at the table above, Republicans will sit in 234 seats where they control or have an advantage in the redistricting process.  Democrats occupy 115 seats in states they have an advantage or control the process.  Republicans hold forty-eight seats to the Democrats seventy-two seats that the opposite party has either complete control or a redistricting advantage.  Keep a close eye on these 120 seats and the cartography skills of the mapmakers if you want an early look at where many of the battleground seats will be in the 2012 election.

Before we let go of the election and turn toward other parlor games, here are some other points and observations to add to last week’s bullets. There are storylines yet to unfold because of the anticipated realignment of power.

• Republicans would not control the House without women and minority incumbents. If you doubt this, take a look. This is hardly the ratio that women, Hispanics or African-Americans hold in the typical workplace or the general public, but it is a sign of party diversity that wasn’t there a decade ago. Some of these members are holdovers from previous cycles. The Black Caucus said it would welcome the two black Republican freshmen.
• The only states without a new House member, senator, or governor since the 2008 election are Nebraska and Montana. That’s a lot of rearranged relationships in the political community as well as delegations that must incorporate new personalities as well as styles in approaching issues.
• The states with a new governor and two new senators since the 2008 election are Colorado, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. New Hampshire has two new senators but reelected its governor. This is an important storyline about turnover in states from the industrial heartland as well as states with significant new populations (Colorado and Virginia).
• States with only white males serving in Congress or in governor’s office are Arkansas, Delaware, Iowa, Kentucky, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Rhode Island, Utah, and Vermont. In other words, most Americans live in states with diversity, and most white male voters have an opportunity to vote for someone who doesn’t look exactly like them.
• Governors just elected with less than 50% of the vote are Rick Scott (R-FL), Pat Quinn (D-IL), Deval Patrick (D-MA), Mark Dayton (D-MN), John Kasich (R-OH), John Kitzhaber (D-OR), Lincoln Chafee (I-RI), and Peter Shumlin (D-VT). That means 8 of the 37 on the ballot had a significant presence from third-party contenders.
• Senators elected with less than 50% of the vote are Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Marco Rubio (R-FL), and Mark Kirk (R-IL).
• The first newly elected member to call to thank us for our support was Bobby Schilling (R-IL 17) who also thanked me for eating at his pizza restaurant while in Moline for a visit with Deere. I’m predicting he isn’t a one-term wonder and that his pro-life connections run deep in this district, and that his kids know what they are doing in running the restaurant in his absence and keeping a campaign organization alive. Everyone said Chris Smith would never win a second term in New Jersey — he just was elected to his 16th from NJ-4.
• Speaking of Illinois, the role of Aaron Schock (R-IL 18) is now being played by Adam Kinzinger (R-IL 11). You can also look that one up.

• Montana
  • Was there any reason for voters to show up just to vote for the state’s lone congressional seat?
  • Montana State House flipped control to the GOP.
• Nebraska
  • All Nebraska incumbents were reelected keeping the delegation solid Republican.
• Nevada
  • Harry Reid survives with roughly 50% while his son Rory loses.
  • Republicans reclaim NV by beating freshman Rep. Dina Titus (D).
• New Hampshire
  • The GOP regained the two House seats swept away in 2006 Democratic landslide.
  • Both New Hampshire State House and Senate flipped control to the GOP.
• New Jersey
  • With all 13 House members running again there was only 1 upset coming from the former NFL player Jon Runyan (R).
• New Mexico
  • New Mexico elected female Hispanic Susana Martinez as governor.
  • Republicans reclaimed a House seat in the 2nd district.
• New York
  • Republicans won big for New York winning 5 Democratic controlled House seats.
  • Andy Cuomo (D) won the governorship as expected.
• North Carolina
  • Sen. Richard Burr (R) won with a healthy lead of about 12%.
  • Only 1 incumbent lost, securing Renee Ellmers (R) as the lone North Carolina freshman.
  • Both North Carolina State House and Senate flipped control to the GOP.  The State Senate is in Republican majority for the first time since reconstruction.
• North Dakota
  • Senator-elect John Hoeven (R) helped boost a turnout that toppled nine-term Rep. Earl Pomeroy (D ND A/L).
• Ohio
  • Both the Senate and Governor seats went Republican.
  • Republicans flipped 5 seats from Democrat to Republican, 1st, 6th, 15th, 16th, and 18th districts.
  • Rep. John Boehner (R OH 8) the de facto speaker in waiting.
  • Ohio State House flipped control to the GOP.
• Oklahoma
  • Dan Boren (D) won by about 12%. Is it a big enough margin to convince other Democrats to reject party caucus leaders on business issues?
  • Rep. Frank Lucas (R OK 3) is in line to chair the Agriculture Committee.
• Oregon
  • The “enthusiasm gap” didn’t appear to apply in this all-mail ballot state.
  • Anti-incumbent trend didn’t touch Oregon’s races.
  • Rep. Greg Walden (R OR 2) has assumed a more visible role as GOP policy messenger.
• Pennsylvania
  • The GOP picked up 5 seats all due to Governor-elect Tom Corbett leading the ticket. 3rd, 7th, 8th, 10th, and 11th districts.
  • Had the Pennsylvania Business Community not supported Tom Corbett’s initial run for Attorney General in 2004 he would not be on the ticket and the above seats would most likely have not changed.
  • Pennsylvania State House flipped control to the GOP.
• Rhode Island
  • Openly gay mayor of Providence, David Cicilline (D) won the Democrat open seat.
  • For the first time in over 60 years there will no longer be a Kennedy in Congress.
  • Independent Lincoln Chafee wins the gubernatorial race with about 36% of the vote.
• South Carolina
  • Rep. John Spratt (D SC 5) lost in the expected GOP turnout for the top of the ticket.
  • Republicans won 5 seats, the 1st, 2nd 3rd, 4th & 5th districts.
• South Dakota
  • Rep. Stephanie Herseth-Handlin (D SD A/L) lost the so-called “battle of the babes” with Kris Noem (R).
• Tennessee
  • Republicans pick up open Democratic seats in the 6th and 8th districts as expected and unexpectedly in the 4th district, displacing Lincoln Davis (D).
• Texas
  • Rick Perry (R) wins the gubernatorial race by roughly 12% of the vote making him the “grandpa” of the governors as he is the longest serving governor.
  • Rep. Chet Edwards (D TX 17) lost to straight ticket voting instead of ideological differences.
• Utah
  • In the tsunami wave of the GOP, Blue Dog Jim Matheson (D UT2) holds onto his seat because split-ticket voters recognize his bi-partisan voting record on health care and cap & trade.
  • Jason Chaffetz wins with almost 75% of the vote against a lifelong Republican-turned Democrat. Could he be using 2010 as a way to test the waters for a convention/primary challenge against Senator Orrin Hatch?
• Vermont
  • The Gubernatorial race is still too close to call but Peter Shumlin (D) has roughly 3,000 more votes than Republican Brian Dubie as of 7:00 AM.
• Virginia
  • Republicans pick-up 3 House seats in the 2nd, 5th, and 9th districts.
  • Rep. Eric Cantor (R VA 7) is GOP minority whip and will likely be the majority leader.
• Washington
  • Republicans won in a Democratic open seat in WA 3 with under 40, female Hispanic state legislator Jaime Herrera.
• West Virginia
  • Republican ad dollars were unsuccessful in tagging Governor Joe Manchin (D) as a clone of Obama.
  • Republicans pick-up the 1st district seat with David McKinley.
  • Rep. Nick Rahall (D WV 3) will no longer chair the Natural Resources Committee.
• Wisconsin
  • The September/October polls were correct in showing Sen. Russ Feingold behind by 10-12 points. He lost by roughly 5%.
  • Republicans picked up the 7th and 8th districts after winning both the governor and Senate races.
  • Rep. Paul Ryan (R WI 1) has eagerly tackled entitlements and should chair the Budget Committee.
  • Both Wisconsin State House and Senate flipped control to the GOP.
• Wyoming
  • In a race that lacks any drama, less than 200,000 voters show up to the polls.

Polls just closed in Indiana and Kentucky and so now we are off. Our Election Night coverage will call each race in every state and we will be with you throughout the night. Stay tuned, and feel free to comment below.

Here are our top signs that we will be watching for tonight to give us all an indication if the Republicans can walk away from this election with success stories.

1. They win control of either the House or Senate.
2. They win the governorships of Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin.
3. The Senate Democratic freshman class is empty.
4. GOP makes inroads in Pacific Coast states of Washington, Oregon and California
5. Seats lost in 2006 and 2008 are regained.
6. Party infrastructure begins to match the Democrats’ Get Out the Vote (GOTV) efforts.
7. Exit polls show that working women voted for the GOP.
8. At least two women win Senate seats.
9. Senator Harry Reid is defeated.
10. Speaker Pelosi takes a look at the results and resigns as the Democratic leader.

There are enough seats in play to make Republican control of the House and Senate mathematically realistic, but how can they pick up an additional 10 Senate seats and 39 House seats? Here are a few things that have happened that adds to this possibility.

1. The Senate retirements are in states that the GOP has an advantage.
2. Appointed Senators have no incumbent benefits to protect them.
3. Tea party enthusiasts decided to back Republican candidates instead of going the independent route.
4. The money and infrastructure are adequate enough to support the scope of races in play.
5. The public mood has been open to GOP messages.
6. The Democrat-controlled Congress has not satisfied the policy base of the Democratic Party creating low enthusiasm.
7. Night-time TV comics made it possible to criticize the President.
8. Democratic House members retired in McCain districts.
9. Union households affected by the economic downturn are willing to flirt with Republican candidates.

Earlier today we posted “10 Signs It Will Be A Good Night For The Democrats.”