Balz and Broder weigh in:
Two days before a bitterly fought midterm election, Democrats have moved into position to recapture the House and have laid siege to the Senate, setting the stage for a dramatic recasting of the power structure in Washington for President Bush's final two years in office, according to a Washington Post analysis of competitive races across the country.The longish Post article recaps the major races across the country. Things look good. There is some tightening in their latest national poll -- and in the Montana Senate race.
In the battle for the House, Democrats appear almost certain to pick up more than the 15 seats needed to regain the majority. Republicans virtually concede 10 seats, and a split of the 30 tossup races would add an additional 15 to the Democratic column.
The Senate poses a tougher challenge for Democrats, who need to gain six seats to take control of that chamber. A three-seat gain is almost assured, but they would have to find the other three seats from four states considered tossup races -- Virginia, Tennessee, Missouri and Montana.
Mehlman is spinning furiously, but Rahm Emanuel had the best line:
"I'm playing defense in one or two districts and offense in 46. I like those odds. I'd rather be us than them."Now, everyone just needs to get out the vote.
