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Charlie Cook: Hard to See Dems Holding on to the House

By Philip Klein on 2.22.10 @ 1:10PM

Charlie Cook, whose Cook Political Report is the go to source for reporters assessing the competitiveness of Congressional races, has declared that, "it's very hard to come up with a scenario where Democrats don't lose the House."

Here's the context of his remarks, as part of an interview with National Journal:

I've spent the last couple of days talking to some of the brightest Democrats in the party that are not in the White House. And it's very hard to come up with a scenario where Democrats don't lose the House. It's very hard. Are the seats there right this second? No. But we're on a trajectory on the House turning over....

There are nine months, certainly things could happen, but the odds of unemployment being below 9 percent are minimal by the time of this election. We're probably going to have a year of basically, more or less, 10 percent unemployment, which hasn't happened since the Great Depression. I mean, in fact, in an even-numbered year there's only been one month of double-digit unemployment in the post-War era. One month. And now we're going to have probably about a year.

Via Jim Geraghty.

View all comments (6) | Leave a comment

L. Ross| 2.22.10 @ 1:29PM

Let's face it. We are lucky to have the democrats in power right now. They look like crap, and we're the alternative. Great time for Republicans.

Brian| 2.22.10 @ 2:43PM

Depends on how you look at it. In my view, we are NOT lucky to have the Democrats in power... EVER. Leftists with power are a constant threat to our freedom and prosperity. It does look good for Republican prospects in the upcoming due in part to the Democrat's statist agenda, but that does not mean we are lucky to have them in power for the next 11 months.

Heatpacker| 2.22.10 @ 1:49PM

Obama claimed to be the candidate of hope and change. The Bush-created malaise would end with his ascension to POTUS. The country would immediately be on the Prosperity Express. Democrats would bring peace, justice, and love to every corner of the globe.
One year later, and the majority of Americans believe that the country is on the wrong track. Will Obama and his radical allies change their behavior and thereby change this negative public opinion? The answer is - a resounding NO! They are committed to transforming this country into France - and international mediocrity - weak, indecisive, economically stagnant, militarily neutered, and morally bankrupt. If the voters of America don't decisively reject Obama's far-left lunacy, then this country is doomed.

Derek Leaberry| 2.22.10 @ 3:46PM

Barone and Cook are the brightest of the prognosticators with Cook probably having a little better knowledge race-by-race while Barone has an outstanding historic knowledge. If Cook says the Democrats will lose the House, they probably will. If the Democrats lose the House, however, the Republicans will have to win Democratic districts like Maryland-1(Eastern Shore, parts of Anne Arundel, Harford and parts of Baltimore County). Frank Kratovil is the alleged "conservative" Democrat. Andy Harris is the conservative Republican. Of course, the district's last Republican, moderate Wayne Gilchrist, will endorse Kratovil.

Tim| 2.22.10 @ 4:00PM

This Democratic congress reminds me of the scene from Ben Hur when the war galleys are fighting... the members are chained to their oars as Reid beats the drum and the Obama yells RAMMING SPEED!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v.....re=related