Election Homestretch Yields Surprises
2006-09-26
Source: Wall Street Journal
email this
print this
del.icio.us
digg this
rss feedNot long ago, Democrats in Washington state were threatening to abandon Sen. Maria Cantwell to protest her 2002 vote authorizing the war against Iraq. Now, the first-term senator says, "People here never wanted to lose this seat."
The senator spoke after an enthusiastic campaign rally underscored her suggestion that disgruntled Democrats have fallen in behind her, after concluding that their protest would only throw the seat to Republicans. Now, her bridge-building and the mistakes of her Republican rival, Mike McGavick, have Democratic leaders in the East resting easier about a seat that topped their endangered list for much of the year.
Mr. McGavick, a former chief executive of insurance company Safeco, says he is making up ground. In any case, the Washington state race illustrates the fluidity of the fall finale for Senate control as voters tune in. Republicans are struggling in a hostile climate to protect a 55-45 majority on Election Day. Democrats have to seize nearly every Republican target while losing none of their own.
The picture in the final stretch isn't what either side expected when the election cycle began. Republicans have given up on early targets among Democrats from states that backed President Bush's re-election, and are now struggling to keep some of their own red-state seats. Democrats, safe in red states, are campaigning hardest in blue ones, especially New Jersey.
Five Republican incumbents trail in polls. In Tennessee's open-seat contest to succeed retiring Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, Democratic Rep. Harold Ford yesterday released a poll showing he had overtaken Republican Bob Corker. Two other Republican incumbents -- Virginia's George Allen and Arizona's John Kyl -- have seen their once-formidable leads erode to single digits.
Click here to see the full article.
