Former President Bill Clinton holds up four-month old Natalie Fontana of Washingtonville, N.Y. while making a campaign stop for Rep. John Hall in Harriman, N.Y. (far left) 30 Oct 2010Republicans and Democrats are making a final push for votes, on the eve of U.S. elections that experts say could give the minority Republicans control of at least one chamber of Congress.
A new poll indicates that Republicans have a more commanding lead than either party has had in decades before a midterm vote. The USA Today/Gallup survey says 55 percent of the 1,500 people asked say they plan to support Republicans in the elections, the widest margin since 1974.
Analysts are expecting Republicans to make enough gains to take control of the House of Representatives, but to fall short of winning a majority in the Senate. Democrats currently control both houses of Congress.
The economy remains the main source of trouble for Democrats this year. Republican leaders say the political energy and momentum is on their side this year, just as it was with the Democrats in 2006 and 2008.
At stake Tuesday are all 435 seats in the House of Representatives and 37 of the 100 seats in the Senate. A number of states also are holding votes for governorships, local officials and ballot measures.
President Barack Obama recently wound up a four-state campaign tour in which he sought to rally fellow Democrats, to limit the expected opposition gains.
During an appearance in Cleveland, Ohio Sunday, Mr. Obama blamed the current economic sluggishness and high unemployment rate on mistakes made by the previous Republican administration. But Republicans have been blaming Mr. Obama.
Republican gains likely would make it more difficult for the president to win approval for his legislative initiatives.
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