“You look at it race by race, it was close. The cumulative effect, however, was not too close. It was a thumping.”

– President Bush at a press conference this afternoon.

Fox News can’t even say the words…

Pop the champagne, toss some confetti, and cancel your plane ticket to Canada…THE DEMOCRATS HAVE WON!

Wait, what? Huh? Oh!

That’s just CNN being stupid.

Talk about propaganda…

White House strategist Karl Rove is predicting that the GOP will keep both the House and the Senate in November’s election. Granted, it’s his job to be the sunny optimist and to put a good face on all of the scandal and corruption taking place in the White House and in the Congress. Just remember, this is propaganda. They are scared and they are going to lose their majority in the House and Senate in under 20 days.

For the GOP’s favorite rag, The Washington Times:

White House political strategist Karl Rove yesterday confidently predicted that the Republican Party would hold the House and the Senate in next month’s elections, dismissing fallout from the sex scandal involving former Rep. Mark Foley.

At a luncheon with editors and reporters at The Washington Times, Mr. Rove — who is widely credited as the architect of the party’s historic 2002 midterm election gains — said Republicans are beginning to make significant headway in defining their party’s differences from congressional Democrats, especially on national security.

“I’m confident we’re going to keep the Senate; I’m confident we’re going to keep the House. The Foley matter has impact in some limited districts, but the research we have shows that people are differentiating between a vote for their congressman and a member from Florida,” Mr. Rove said, referring to the Republican who resigned last month after his sexually explicit online messages to former congressional pages were discovered.

The crooked GOP leaders are planning something big. There will definitely be an ‘October surprise’. That is why it is so important to call your local campaign office and get to work today!

Maybe they will find Osama on Nov. 5th…I wouldn’t put it past them.

There’s a hot primary race brewin’ in Wisconsin for Attorney General. The incumbent, Peggy Lautenschlager is facing a stiff primary from Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk. Lautenschlager got in a little trouble a while back when she crashed a government vehicle…while drunk…

From Wikipedia:

In February 2004, Lautenschlager made national headlines after pleading guilty to drunk driving in Dodge County, about an hour away from Madison. A Dodge County sheriff reported to the scene to find her state-owned vehicle in the ditch, and her luckily unharmed inside. Her preliminary breathalizer test at the scene showed that her blood alcohol level was 0.12, 50% above the legal limit of 0.08. Lautenschlager said that she had fallen asleep at the wheel, and had consumed only two glasses of wine earlier that evening. She was arrested, and later released to her husband. She refused a blood test, which is standard for a DUI stop in Wisconsin. (Dodge County Case Number 2004TR001348)

A state Ethics Board investigated Lautenschlger’s case and ruled that some use of the state car for personal use exceeded state-allowed limits. Lautenschlager reimbursed some of the costs and paid a fine of $250. Her driver’s license was also revoked for a year.

Kathleen Falk has been running a solid campaign. They’re organizing to get out the vote and could win this primary over the incumbent in September. Today, Falk’s campaign put out a hard-hitting ad re-introducing the DUI incident, an incident Peggy Lautenschlager won’t soon forget. Neither will her political foes. Check it out.

There is an interesting dynamic playing out in Maryland’s 4th district. Al Wynn (D), who has represented the district since 1993 is being challenged by a Donna Edwards (D), a political newcomer who is a very solid candidate and who has been steadily gaining momentum ever since she whooped Wynn in a one-on-one debate some weeks back.

This morning, Donna Edwards was endorsed by the Washington Post. Please take a moment to read the endorsement and send it around to as many Marylanders as you can.

Excerpt from Washington Post Endorsement:

On the war in Iraq, Ms. Edwards has scored points by attacking Mr. Wynn as Maryland’s Joseph I. Lieberman — a supporter of the war portrayed as too close to the Bush administration. Mr. Wynn backed the war at the outset, but he has since recanted, saying he was misled by bad intelligence. More to the point of today’s debate, both candidates are calling for a U.S. withdrawal, a scenario that we believe would leave chaos in its wake.

Mr. Wynn insists he has been a successful pork-barrel politician; we suspect Ms. Edwards, razor-sharp and relentless, would be at least as effective. We disagree with her on some important issues, but we are convinced she would be the more forceful, principled and effective representative. And while her insurgent candidacy is an uphill battle, it should put Mr. Wynn on notice that voters expect quality representation in Congress, not just a local political boss.

Read the rest here.

Statement from Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT):

“Yesterday, Connecticut Democratic voters went to the polls to elect candidates to represent our party in general election contests this fall.

“I congratulate all of the candidates for waging vigorous campaigns about important issues. These clean, issues-based campaigns are a hallmark of campaigns in our Democratic party and in our state.

“Another hallmark of our campaigns is that we Democrats typically unite behind nominees elected by Democratic voters. It is in keeping with that tradition that I join Rosa DeLauro, John Larson, and other Connecticut Democrats in declaring my support for the Democratic slate of candidates who will face the voters this November. That decision includes the race for the United States Senate.

“I supported Joe Lieberman in the primary. Like many other Democrats, it was my view that Joe had compiled a strong record on Democratic priorities, like good jobs and a healthier environment. He’s a good friend, a good Senator, and a good Democrat.

“But now the voters of our party have spoken — and I respect their decision. For that reason, I have congratulated Ned Lamont on his victory in the primary, and pledged to help in any way I can to secure his victory in the general election this fall. He has earned the right to represent our party and I believe he will be an outstanding candidate for the Senate. I hope Connecticut voters will support him on Election Day in November.”

Thank you Sen. Dodd for standing up and having the backbone to do what is good for your party.

National Public Radio’s Mara Liasson did a story on a hot button issue that could galvanize Democratic voters and turn them out in record numbers at the polls in the fall. The issue is the minimum wage. Democrats are and have always been the party of the people. We think of America as a family and when one member of the family is weak, it pulls the whole unit down. Republicans see it differently. They believe that it is best to engage and afford opportunity to those at the top, those who don’t need help and those who are doing okay on their own. They consider everyone else to be a drag on society.

Just like the Republicans were successful in driving up turnout in 2004 using the issue of gay marriage, the Democrats hope to capitalize on the issue of the minimum wage on state ballots across the country. Today, the federal minimum wage stands at $5.15 per hour. The majority of Americans feel that the minimum wage should be increased, but the Republicans in Congress disagree, they’d rather give tax cuts to the rich and wage pre-emptive wars around the world.

Have a listen to the story.