Republicans Could Stay Dry on Higher Ground
PLUS – The 2006 Midterm Map of America

The drumbeat has become the daily background noise in most Beltway political circles, as pervasive as it is percussive. It echoes on today, just as it has for well over a month: in just 40 days and 40 nights, Democrats will wake up to find that they have emerged from four years in the wilderness, having gained the necessary seats in one or both chambers of Congress to win a legislative check on President Bush and restore divided control of government.

But not so fast! Yes, back at the beginning of last month, the Crystal Ball observed surer signs of a Democratic “micro-wave” gathering strength on its way to “macro-wave” status. And don’t get us wrong, the minority party remains poised to reap sizeable gains in Senate seats, House seats, and governorships, especially in places where the weakest Republican targets have seemed in danger of getting swept out to sea for many months. But with six weeks left to go until the midterm madness draws to a close, the Crystal Ball sees several indications that the tide may be turning back in the GOP’s favor–at least temporarily. Furthermore, some states are starting to look a lot less susceptible to a pro-Democratic tidal wave than others-—in other words, at least some Republican property lies on higher, safer ground.