If it is the economy, GOP may be in trouble: Backlash over gas prices, housing slump

LAT: If it is the economy, GOP may be in trouble
Any voter backlash over gas prices and the housing slump is expected to punish Republicans vying to replace Bush.
By Peter Nicholas, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
November 9, 2007

WASHINGTON -- Republican strategists are beginning to fear that a deteriorating economy will pose serious obstacles for their party's presidential candidates, who may ultimately have to answer for rising gas prices and a slumping housing market.

For most of the year, the campaign has been dominated by dueling positions on the war in Iraq, national security, immigration and healthcare. But with gas prices topping $3 a gallon and home foreclosures a deepening concern, the struggling economy could trump other issues in next year's general election campaign.

President Bush is in his second term and can't face reprisal at the polls. So to the extent there is a voter backlash, it would be aimed at the president's party -- chiefly the Republican candidates vying to succeed him, GOP consultants said.

Economic forecasts are worsening: On Thursday, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke said he expected a "sluggish" economy in the coming months. With millions of sub-prime mortgages due to be reset over the next 14 months, he said, more homeowners are at risk of default. The stock market has been volatile, dropping more than 393 points over the last two days.

"Any economic pain comes out of the hide of the Republican Party," said Don Sipple, a Republican strategist based in California. "It's one more advantage for the Democrats."...

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-campaign9nov09,1,4156732.story?coll=la-headlines-nation&ctrack=4&cset=true

as long as they can

James Buchanan (D-1860)....Democrats divided into a northern and southern party and lose

Grover Cleveland (D-1896)....W.J. Bryan loses

Woodrow Wilson (D-1920)....Cox loses

LBJ (D-1968)....Humphrey loses

and we defied the odds, of an incumbent Congress not retaining control in a midterm election

One of the main issues in 2006 was Iraq, and if the 3 leading candidates are clear about what they will do, then it is going to be difficult

"Democrats are maintaining stable and nearly landslide leads in both the race for President as measured by generic performance (51-41) and the named ballot for Congress (52-42 percent)."
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2007/07/31/surveys-show-house-dems-m_n_58592.html