Sen. Charles Schumer says the political landscape has shifted dramatically from the 2010 election and predicts that Senate Democrats will hold their majority and might even expand it next year.
In an interview with The Hill, Schumer (D-N.Y.) brushed off suggestions that President Obama will hurt the chances of congressional Democrats in the 2012 elections. He said Obama’s approval ratings are on the rise, Democrats have the upper hand on the economy and Republican rhetoric on reducing government and the deficit is not striking the chord that it did during the midterms.
“I think we’re very, very likely to keep the Senate and I think there’s a darn good chance we stay the same or pick up seats,” Schumer said.
Democrats now have a 53-47 advantage in the upper chamber, but have been hit with retirements in red and purple states. They also must defend 23 seats next year while Republicans are defending only 10. Independent political handicappers say the GOP has a better than 50-50 shot at grabbing control of the Senate.
Schumer, who headed the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) during historic Democratic gains from 2005 to 2008, disagrees.
The ailing economy, Schumer contends, will hurt the GOP more than Democrats: “We don’t expect the economy to be in a rip-roaring recovery next year, but that hurts Republicans even more than it hurts Democrats, because it changes what the major issues are.
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2 Responses
All that it requires is convincing most Americans that the massive deficits and bailouts for friends of those in power that worked so well in 2009-2010, and have worked so well in Europe, are a really good idea. It also might help if they convince people they really will be happier with higher taxes and less control over their own medical care. And of course, the Democrats can count on the overwhelming support for abortion and gay marriage.
Though as a well known Republican once said, “You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time….”
Dream on… The saying goes, if I am corect, “You could fool half the people half the time but you cannot fool all the people all the time”.