WHOAH! Murtha predicts Dems to pick up 40-50 seats! [View All]

WASHINGTON (AP) - Rep. John Murtha, the hawkish Democrat who stunned Washington last year with his call for withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq, said Thursday that American forces will come home next year - either because of public pressure or a Democratic-controlled Congress.

The Pennsylvania lawmaker predicted a political tidal wave in November, comparable to the post-Watergate class of 1974 - when he was first elected - or the Republican rout in 1994 that will give the Democrats control of the House.

His estimate: Democrats will win 40-50 House seats - far more than the 15 necessary to take charge from Republicans.

``They're not going to understand how bad it's going to be,'' Murtha said in an interview with The Associated Press. ``They're going to get shocked.''