Republicans are heading into a “Category 5” political storm in November, giving Democrats a shot at taking back control of both chambers of Congress for the first time in over a decade, a panelist told Democrats meeting in Denver on Sunday.
Voter dissatisfaction with the Iraq war and the Bush administration in general provide Democrats a unique opportunity to win over moderate Republicans and independents, said Amy Walter, senior editor of the nonpartisan Cook Political Report.
“I’ve seen Republicans win even when things look bad, but I’ve never seen them run in a Category 5 storm,” she said, citing the president’s low approval ratings and polls showing a majority of Americans think the country is “on the wrong track.”
Democrats have not regained control of both the U.S. House and Senate since losing them in 1994. In November, they must pick up six Senate seats and 15 House seats in order to regain the majority.
Along with Walter, some 375 centrist Democrats from 42 states gathered to plot their strategy for winning back Congress and the White House.
Much of the opening day of the two-day Democratic Leadership Council was devoted to panel sessions about how to connect with voters on issues including immigration, energy and poverty.
Democrats also discussed trying to connect with voters on religion, instead of avoiding the topic. However, rather than discuss faith in the context of abortion rights and gay marriage, Democrats were encouraged to use faith and religion when discussing jobs, health care and education.
“If we continue to have this perception in the Democratic Party that faith can’t be discussed, we’ll continue to lose elections based on wedge issues,” said state Rep. Terrance Carroll, a Baptist minister from Denver.
Many at the conference held up Colorado as an example of states that can make Democratic inroads. In 2004, Colorado Democrats gained control of the statehouse for the first time in 44 years. U.S. Sen. Ken Salazar and his brother, U.S. Rep. John Salazar – both Democrats – also were elected.
The conference continues today with Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York unveiling the group’s “American Dream Initiative.” It is expected to focus on developing plans for winning back voters.
Along with Clinton, Sen. Evan Bayh of Indiana, Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack and New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson – all with 2008 presidential ambitions – will appear.
Although the majority of sessions were originally closed to the press, that changed Sunday morning after state Sen. Bob Hagedorn pointed out that could violate the state’s open meetings law.
Staff writer Karen Crummy can be reached at 303-820-1594 or at kcrummy@denverpost.com.
