Democrats Could Lose Big in House in 2010

Alan Grayson, Tom Perriello, Joseph Cao among those fighting for their job

(NEWSER) - Polling guru Nate Silver used his highly sophisticated model to predict that the GOP could pick up anywhere from 23 to 81 seats . They need to pick up 39 in order to grab a 218-vote House majority. We boiled it down to the 9 that you should keep an eye on:

1. Indiana's 2nd District: Rep. Joe Donnelly has been distancing himself from the White House and Pelosi. The tactic seems to be working in his conservative district; he's leading in the polls against Republican Jackie Walorski. If things turn, watch out: It's going to be a long night for the Dems.
2. Virginia's 5th District: Conversely, Rep. Tom Perriello has been unwavering in his defense of health reform, etc ... Obama has plugged him several times in recent days, but his purple district is leaning toward Republican John Hurt.

Women, Catholics, independents now favoring GOP

(NEWSER) - Key groups of voters who helped President Obama win in 2008 and delivered Congress to the Democrats in 2006 are favoring the GOP this time around, a New York Times /CBS poll finds. Women, Catholics, less affluent voters, and independents are all leaning Republican, the poll finds. Women are set to choose Republicans over Democrats in House races for the first time since polls started tracking voting demographics in 1982. More»

Spending set to top $4M for each congressional seat

(NEWSER) - Fundraising records have been shattered as House and Senate candidates head toward the finish line, a Washington Post analysis of campaign finance data finds. House and Senate candidates have raised over $1.5 billion and total spending is on course to top $2 billion as hopefuls dig deep into their war chests and, in many races, their own pockets. The total works out to more than $4 million for every congressional seat up for grabs. More»

Steve King, Louie Gohmert not far behind among fringe congressmen

(NEWSER) - A week after releasing its Senate Wingnut Index , the Daily Beast investigates wingnuttery in the House. Using a “semi-scientific” process to identify the most extreme members on both sides of the spectrum, the site ranks them:

1. Michele Bachmann (R-MN): From calling the president “anti-American” to warning of tyranny, “Bachmann has become a symbol of all things Wingnutty in American politics.”

But Republican backers are more likely to vote

(NEWSER) - It's good news/bad news time, Democrats. Bad news: The public doesn’t much like you. In fact, a whopping 60% disapprove of the job you’re doing in the latest AP poll. Good news: They dislike Republicans even more; 68% disapprove of them, and Sarah Palin and George W. Bush are viewed significantly more negatively than President Obama. But more bad news: The people who dislike Democrats are more likely to actually vote. More»