Election Insider
May 7 Election Insider
The North Carolina and Indiana primaries may have forced clarity upon the Democratic presidential race last night. With the math of the delegate race becoming increasingly implausible for the Clinton campaign, it is likely that the marathon race is close to a conclusion.
April 24 Election Insider
Political attention continues to be dominated by the seemingly never-ending drama for the Democratic presidential nomination, but while the Clinton and Obama camps slug it out, Democrats supporting either candidate are working tirelessly to solidify the Democratic majority in the Senate.
April 10 Election Insider
The results of the Democratic primary runoff last week suggest that a Democratic victory in the upcoming special election is very possible.
March 25 Election Insider
As this excursion from the frantic primary calendar unfolds, Pennsylvania is the next important primary on the horizon.
March 11 Election Insider
The Democratic Party scored a major victory last week, and unlike most current stories in politics, it had little to do with the presidential primaries.
February 25 Election Insider
So much has changed since Hillary Clinton won in New Hampshire. Barack Obama has turned the tide in his direction, scoring 10 straight victories and making inroads into every segment of the population that had overwhelmingly supported Hillary Clinton in New Hampshire.
February 15 Election Insider
The wealth of presidential primaries and caucuses on Super Tuesday and beyond have failed to produce a clear front-runner for the Democratic presidential nomination but have shown a population increasingly tuned in to and motivated by the Democratic contest.
February 4 Election Insider
The most striking feature of the Democratic primary season, at least to date, has been remarkable turnout. State after state -- Iowa , New Hampshire , South Carolina , Nevada , Florida -- has established turnout records.
January 31 Election Insider
Bereft of delegates to the National Convention, a penalty imposed by the Democratic National Committee for noncompliance with the prescribed calendar, Florida nevertheless is worth a look.
January 23 Election Insider
In the week leading up to the New Hampshire primary, poll after poll had Barack Obama well ahead of eventual winner Hillary Clinton. Obviously the polls were wrong, but there were several other factors that led to Clinton 's unexpected victory in New Hampshire , some of which carried over to Nevada .
January 15 Election Insider
The Iowa caucus is one of the most influential events in the presidential nomination process. It is a strong indicator of the mood of the country.
December 17 Election Insider
The 2008 election landscape is increasingly positive for Democrats. Republican retirements in the House and Senate have kept the GOP on the defensive, as several members have decided not to seek reelection in competitive districts.
November 28 Election Insider
Since 2004, Colorado has transformed from a solid Republican state to one of intense competition where Democrats have suddenly reached parity.
October 26 Election Insider
Americans want change. Despite low congressional approval ratings, polls show that Democrats have an advantage in the upcoming congressional and presidential elections. President Bush continues to cast a shadow over his party.
October 11 Election Insider
Virginia presents Democrats with the opportunity to reclaim a small portion of the South. The last two election cycles have shown a significant shift in the voting habits of Virginians, making the state contentious in all races including the presidency.
September 21 Election Insider
Democrats have a heavy advantage when looking at the Senate in 2008, and the news gets better by the day. Strong Democratic candidates are emerging, and unbeatable Republicans are retiring.
August 29 Election Insider
Republicans have vigorously campaigned since 1994 on a platform of social morals, family values, and bringing accountability to Washington . In the months leading up to the 2006 election, scandal after scandal emerged, showcasing their paper-thin rhetoric.
August 9 Election Insider
Previous issues of the Election Insider have focused on the importance of extending the Democratic majorities in Congress. In today's political reality, incumbents rarely lose.
July 27 Election Insider
Republicans have a simple strategy for winning back Congress in 2008: they plan to label the current Democratic majority as a "do-nothing" Congress.
July 11 Election Insider
The evolution of the Independent is one of the most important factors affecting American politics today. Americans are identifying themselves as Independent with greater frequency, making these swing voters essential to the success of almost any campaign.
June 28 Election Insider
Not a single vote has been cast in a presidential primary, but already it feels as though the country is neck deep in the presidential race.
June 13 Election Insider
In the past the party of a newly elected president enjoyed wholesale success, sweeping into power by winning in both the presidential race and the congressional elections.
May 29 Election Insider
One of the most important aspects of any campaign is formatting a message that can be repeated and that will stick with the voters. In 2006, Democrats employed the term “culture of corruption” to describe the Republican-held Congress.
May 17 Election Insider
The eyes of Americans are firmly fixated on the early-forming presidential campaign, but Democrats must not be complacent and single-minded or the consequences could be dire.
April 25 Election Insider
The litany of corruption that permeated the GOP-led Congress helped push voters away from Republicans in 2006.
April 18 Election Insider
The enthusiasm that propelled Democrats to take control of Congress remains, as Democratic fundraising remained competitive in congressional races for the first quarter of the year.
Election Insider
July 27 Election Insider
Republican Obstructionist Tactics Highlight the Importance of 2008
Republicans have a simple strategy for winning back Congress in 2008: they plan to label the current Democratic majority as a “do-nothing” Congress. However, in order to back up this claim, Republicans need only look in the mirror to see that they are the ones blocking legislation at a record pace and preventing effective government. The GOP has used filibusters and other delaying tactics extensively in the Senate to prevent Democrats from taking action on the nation's most pressing issues, including immigration and the war in Iraq. This situation underscores the need for stronger majorities in both houses of Congress and further demonstrates why NCEC is firmly committed to working on congressional races in today's environment, where the presidential race receives so much attention.
Over the past several months, congressional approval ratings have plummeted alongside the president's, but this is not due to lack of effort from the slim Democratic majorities. Seven months into the current two-year term, the Senate has held 42 cloture votes (votes that are aimed at cutting off extended debate). Unfortunately, 60 senators must vote to cut off debate in the Senate and move a measure to a full vote. This is a daunting task for a one-seat majority, which must rely on some element of bipartisan support to get anything passed. Consequently, Democrats have failed 22 times to cut off debate, which explains the current inaction on such issues as immigration, where Democrats were unable to muster enough Republican support despite a genuine attempt to compromise. Republicans have blocked votes on immigration, energy, labor rights, prescription drugs, and the war in Iraq, choosing to play politics rather than listen to the will of the people. Democrats have continued to try to push legislation past filibusters and veto threats.
In fact, nearly one in six roll-call votes in the Senate this year has been a bid to cut off debate. As the graph below demonstrates, this level of blocking legislation is unprecedented; if the current rate continues, the 110 th Congress will nearly triple the previous record of cloture votes.
The GOP will use its obstructionist strategy of blocking votes as a campaign tool to accuse the Democratic members of Congress of not getting anything done. The GOP will point at low approval ratings for Congress and try to convince the public that people want Republicans back in control. However, Republicans conveniently forget to mention that public sentiment toward the two parties still overwhelmingly favors Democrats. The May 3–June 3, 2007, Washington Post-Kaiser-Harvard poll showed that voters have a much more favorable opinion of the national Democratic Party than of the national Republican Party. According to the poll, 57 percent of voters have a favorable view of the Democratic Party as opposed to 43 percent for the Republicans. While it is true that the public is not pleased that a great deal of legislation is not getting passed, people are happy that Democrats are in the majority and that we are attempting to challenge the belligerent Bush administration.
Senate Ripe With Opportunity
Extending our majority in the Senate may be more important now than ever before, and Democrats will be on the offensive in 2008. Vulnerable seats in Colorado, Maine, Minnesota, New Hampshire, North Carolina, and possibly Virginia present Democrats with a golden opportunity to extend our slim majority. For example, an early poll in New Hampshire shows that Republican incumbent John Sununu would be in real trouble if Democratic Governor Jeanne Shaheen were to enter the race. According to the WMUR-TV/CNN/University of New Hampshire poll, Shaheen leads Sununu 54 percent to 38 percent. Other races that could become interesting include those in Oregon and
Oklahoma, so there are more than enough opportunities to secure a Democratic advantage in the Senate.
Outlook |
Democrats |
Republicans |
Battleground |
Mary Landrieu (LA) |
Wayne Allard/Open (CO)
|
Leans |
Mark Pryor (AR)
|
James Inhofe (OK) |
Safe |
Joe Biden (DE) |
Jeff Sessions (AL) |
*Pending Possible Retirement |
|
|
If Democrats don't maintain and expand our majority in the Senate, Republican obstructionist tactics will continue to thwart Democratic efforts on a variety of issues. NCEC is one of the few organizations working mainly toward success in the congressional races in 2008. We know that without larger congressional majorities, a prospective new Democratic president would be faced with the same obstructionism that has stymied our slim majorities. Please help us by contributing to our efforts.
