can regain control of either chamber
of Congress. But many campaign
strategists now think Republicans
are well positioned to make gains in
both — if they can build an effective
case against President Obama and
his Democratic allies.
“People feel like they over-cor-
rected in 2008, and now there’s an
imbalance of power in Washington,”
said Glen Bolger, a prominent GOP
pollster. “They wanted change, but
they didn’t want party domination.”
The GOP’s biggest challenge:
POWER TRIO Voters are disenchanted by Obama’s willingness to share power
with the likes of Pelosi and Rangel, say insiders.
They’re still less popular than
Obama. Much less. And while some
GOP strategists recognize the risks ciently to become a campaign liabil- bloodbath of 2006. “The anti-Bush
of heading into 2010 as the obstruc- ity for his party’s 2010 candidates. sentiment, which became the anti-
tionist “party of no,” they currently “President Obama and the Republican sentiment, was too much
hold very few tools with which to Democrats have made the mistake of for me to handle, so I was sent
do much else. Consequently, they short-changing voters on campaign home,” he said.
admit, the case they’ll make to vot- promises and over-interpreting their Three years later, however,
ers next year will focus squarely on mandate,” says Rep. Pete Sessions, Simmons is now running to oust
Democrats. R-Texas, chairman of the House fi ve-term Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Conn.,
“President Obama came into GOP campaign committee. He’s and early polls show the Republican
offi ce promising to govern in a bipar- hurt his party by seceding power enjoys a double-digit lead in a state
tisan manner and change the ‘busi- to Nancy Pelosi, Obama carried by
ness as usual’ in Washington D.C. Barney Frank, and 23 points.
.
P
R
During the last seventh months, Charlie Rangel.”
E
S
C
O
G
however, he has governed from the The reversal of
A
I
M
far left, seemingly forgetting that Democratic for-
“
People feel
“There’s been
a dramatic shift,”
like they over-
Simmons main-
I
T
E
R
P America is fundamentally a center- tunes has already
corrected in
tained. “With the
J
U
9
0 right nation,” Sen. John Cornyn, been a boon to
0
2
2008, and
economic diffi-
©
R-Texas, chairman of the National GOP candidate
T
/
R
A
Senatorial Campaign Committee, recruitment —
now there’s
culties we’re con-
fronting, and the
/
D
T
O
said recently. in both House
an imbalance
policy approaches
O
H
P
O
and Senate races.
of power in
we’re discuss-
C
K
Perhaps the
Washington.
/
I
S
T
O
D
R
D
emocrats are standing behind
Obama — for now. “I was an 2010 candidate
A ’’
ing, Republican
values are re-
O
B early supporter of President Obama, who best repre- emerging as the
L
K
A
endorsing his candidacy in 2007,” sents the party’s appropriate val-
C
H
E
S
/
said Rep. Paul Hodes, a two-term rise and fall, and ues for this time.
G
A
I
M Democratic congressman running potential rise again, is a former CIA Free enterprise, personal responsi-
E
T
T
Y
for Senate in New Hampshire, where offi cer-turned-congressman named bility, and concern about the defi -
F
P
/
G
Obama won by 9 points. “And I’m Rob Simmons. cit are now foremost in people’s
/
A
N
A proud to support the efforts of this Simmons, 66, was elected to mind.” Still, Republicans do have
S
L
O
president.” Congress in 2000 at the height of reason for concern — especially
/
T
I
M
A But many Republicans believe the House GOP’s dominance but in the Senate, where they enjoy
M
A
B
O Obama has been weakened suffi - was thrown out of offi ce in the GOP few real opportunities to erase the
NOVEMBER 2009 / NEWSMAX 31
30_POL_Midterms.indd 31 10/1/09 12:03 PM
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