Dems see Congressional openings

With McCain’s poll numbers fading like Wall Street on a Black Monday, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is targeting more House seats that were, until now, regared as safely Republican.

It makes sense, even if spending into debt.

As the story notes, the presidential party normally loses House seats in midterm elections. Assuming Obama is elected, and the economy, specifically, all the housing related issues, remains iffy to bad all the way through 2009, that midterm hit will probably be bigger than average.

In other words, Democrats need to pick up some “padding” this year.

Science policy questions for Cornyn and Noriega

And, Eddie Bernice Johnson and her challenger, Fred Wood, while we’re at it.

From the folks who TRIED to bring us ScienceDebate 2008 during the presidential primary season, but for the pointed lack of cooperation of both Republican and Democratic candidates, with the input of readers, here is the list of seven questions related to science policy that every candidate for the House or Senate should be asked.

The basic categories are innovation, climate change, energy, education, water, research and health. Read the whole thing for a detailed question in each category and more, as well as links to learn how to fire science-related questions at your candidates.

A list of questions for the presidential candidates is forthcoming.

Silver lining in another House Dem surge?

Reports are that Democrats could add as many House seats this fall as in 2006.

Bottom line would be that Blue Dog Democrats would have to decide whether they wanted to be “Blue Dog” or “Democrat” on several issues.

Even if half of 30 new Congressmen this year might fall in the Blue Dog coalition, the other 15 would negate the part of this Congress’s Democratic majority that is owed to Blue Dogs.

Even if we whack those numbers to 20 new seats, and half of them not Blue Dog, the 10 “pristine” new seats would pretty much do the trick.