Progressive Democrat Issue 88: THOUGHTS

As we approach November, I feel nervous. I know how badly the Republicans want to hold on to power and their desperation means there will be a lot of voter fraud and a lot of money spent smearing Democrats. And the tame media will be helping them.

We need to really put up a fight. As my pessimism warns me to expect the worst, I keep hearing news that makes our chances seem better and better. We need to keep fighting, keep writing letters to the editor, donating time and money and talking to our friends to get out the Democratic message.

Right now some major Republican sources are predicting Democrats will gain 4 Senate seats (Ohio, Pennsylvania, Montana and Rhode Island) and will lose one to an Independent (Lieberman in Connecticut) and one to a Republican (New Jersey). That looks like the worst scenario. Democratic sources are predicting a much better Senate win, with as many as 6 pick ups. Holding New Jersey is a must and it is starting to look like both Tennessee and Missouri Senate races are becoming very competitive. In fact, those two states are tossups at the moment. If we can hold New Jersey, and take the four predicted seats the Republicans expect us to win, AND take BOTH Tennessee and Missouri, we take the Senate. If we want it, we have to work VERY hard for it.

The House is wide open. Even Republicans are predicting we will pick up 11 House seats. But by now about 40 House seats that were expected to be safe are up for grabs, and almost all of them are Republicans seats. Democrats are only at risk in a handful of districts while Republicans are at risk all over the nation. We need 15 seats, but if we work our asses off, we could take as many as 20.

So that is what it is all about until November. Donations and volunteer hours to win. Period. This is our chance to win big.