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Schumer Confident of Democratic Majority

Posted on: Sunday, 29 October 2006, 12:00 CST

WASHINGTON - The chairman of the Senate Democratic campaign expressed confidence Sunday his party can win a Senate majority in the Nov. 7 elections, calling the vote "more and more a referendum on George Bush."

"We're right on the edge. Every week things get better and better," said Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y. "With the exception of one candidate, no other Republican candidate uses a four-letter word - B-U-S-H. They're running away from him."

Democrats need to take six seats to gain power in the 100-member Senate.

Sen. Elizabeth Dole, R-N.C., who heads the Republican Senate campaign effort, predicted that GOP will retain its Senate majority, saying voters would not want a Democrat-controlled chamber that she said would weaken the economy by supporting tax increases.

"President Bush's name is not on the ballot," Dole said. "Our candidates are talking about issues important in their states, such as corruption in New Jersey. All politics is local."

Both parties are focusing on voter turnout efforts to gain the edge in what they acknowledge will be a close election.

In the House, Democrats need to gain 15 seats to become the majority in the 435-member House.

House Majority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, dismissed the notion that the House races would be a national referendum, describing it as "435 individual races all around the country."

"The issues are different in each of these races," he said. "What we're going to do is continue to work hard right up until election day and mobilize every vote that we can."

But Schumer cited growing voter discontent with President Bush's war in Iraq. He criticized the administration's "stay the course" approach that has been supported by the Republican-controlled Congress.

"This election is becoming more and more a referendum on George Bush, his failed policies both overseas and at home with a rubber stamp Congress," he said.

Dole and Schumer appeared on "Fox News Sunday," while Boehner spoke on ABC's "This Week."

Source: Associated Press/AP Online

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