Races Look Safer For Local Democrats
NEW YORK (CBS 2) -- While polls favor Democrats in New York races for governor and U.S. Senate seats, many Democrats in other parts of the country are fighting for their political lives. As CBS 2HD's Kathryn Brown reports, that could mean some big changes after Tuesday.
Democrats were calling out the big guns, doing everything they could to avoid a political pummeling. "If everyone who fought for change in 2008 shows up to vote in 2010 we will win this election," President Obama said.
However, most polls say differently. The most recent Gallup gives Republicans a 55-percent to 40-percent lead over Democrats among likely voters.
And it zeroes in on the enthusiasm gap. Of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents, 75-percent said they are "absolutely certain" they will vote compared with just 68-percent of Democrats.
"They're going to say 'You blew it, President Obama. We gave you two years to fulfill your promise of making sure our economy starts roaring back to life again'," former Governor Sarah Palin said.
New York appeared to be bucking the national trend. Recent Sienna polls showed Democratic Junior Senator Kirsten Gillibrand poised to hang on to her seat with a 20-point lead over challenger, former Representative Joseph DioGuardi.
Sienna pollsters also give Democrat Chuck Schumer a 32-percentage point edge over his opponent, Jay Townsend.
In Connecticut, polls show a tightening race for Senate. Only 24 hours before voting booths open, an average of several recent surveys gives Democrat Dick Blumenthal roughly an 11-percentage point lead over Republican Linda McMahon.
