Two polls yesterday showed Democrats had a double-digit
advantage when likely voters were asked which partys candidate
they would support.
The new polls contradicted two surveys on Sunday that showed
Republicans closing the gap on Democrats.
A CNN poll gave Democrats an edge of 20 points, 58% to 38%. A Fox
News poll put the Democratic lead at 13 points.
Elections tend to tighten as you get closer to the day but I feel
confident about where we are in individual races that we have
focused our attention on, Democratic house leader Nancy Pelosi
told a radio station in Portland, Oregon.
All of this will be about turnout. That, of course, is the story
of the next 24 hours, said Pelosi, who would likely become the
first woman house of representatives speaker if the Democrats take
control. Because of her liberal views, this point is often used as
a rallying point for Republicans.
All 435 house seats, 33 senate seats and 36 governorships are at
stake in todays voting, with Democrats needing to pick up 15 house
seats and six senate seats to seize control of both houses of
congress. About 50 contested house races and 10 senate races are
the chief battleground.
I think we will see some surprises, said Republican Jim Leach of
Iowa.
Analysts predict Democrats could gain at least 20 and as many as 40
house seats from Republicans, while senate control could hinge on
tight races for Republican-held seats in Missouri, Virginia,
Tennessee, Montana and Rhode Island. Democrats probably need to win
at least four of those races, and polls yesterday showed
Republicans had slight leads in Tennessee and Virginia. Democratic
challengers led in Missouri, Montana and Rhode Island.
Both parties counted on star power to sway undecided voters. Former
president Bill Clinton stumped for Democrats in New York and
Virginia.
President George Bush, whose low approval ratings have forced him
to stick to Republican-leaning states so he does not turn off
independents, was supporting candidates in Florida, Arkansas and
Texas.
