Dems Positioned to Challenge GOP Control

House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi, center, Democratic congressional candidate Lois Murphy, left, and Congresswomen Allyson Schwartz, D-Pa., speak to students at the University of Pennsylvania, about the importance of Philadelphia area races in the battle for control of Congress Friday, Oct. 6, 2006, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/H. Rumph Jr) (H. Rumph R - AP)

WASHINGTON -- Aided by public revulsion over an Internet-age sex scandal, Democrats enter the final month of the campaign well-positioned to challenge for control of Congress, while Republicans increasingly express concern about holding onto power.

"We're going to need everything we have to make sure we're victorious," said Republican Rep. Tom Cole of Oklahoma, who had long experience as a party strategist before his election to Congress.

"I think we have the ability to do that but it depends on how well we perform," he added.

Yet with four weeks _ and an unknown number of swings in political momentum _ remaining until the Nov. 7 elections, Democrats guarded against excessive optimism.

"It's still an uphill battle," said New York Sen. Chuck Schumer, speaking at the end of a tumultuous week in which Republicans struggled to overcome the political damage caused by former Rep. Mark Foley, R-Fla., and his sexually explicit computer messages to teenage male pages.

Democratic candidates are in competitive races for seven Republican-held seats in the Senate and 30 or more in the House, according to public as well as private polls. Equally significant is that barring a change, GOP opportunities for offsetting gains appear minuscule _ only three or four House seats currently under Democratic control and one in the Senate.

Members of the leadership in both the House and Senate are among the Republicans in jeopardy _ Sen. Rick Santorum in Pennsylvania and Rep. Deborah Pryce in Ohio _ as Democrats look for major gains in the Northeast and Midwest.

Four Republican congressmen are in trouble in Pennsylvania. And strikingly, three more are struggling for survival in Republican-red Indiana _ at the same time Sen. Richard Lugar is coasting to a sixth term without so much as a Democratic opponent.

Thirty-six states are electing governors this year. Republican Arnold Schwarzenegger leads in the polls for re-election in California, but Democrats are in commanding positions to succeed retiring Republicans in New York and Ohio.

The fate of hundreds of ballot initiatives will be decided. Several states will vote on proposals to ban same-sex marriages and raise the minimum wage. Republicans hope the former will boost turnout in crucial congressional races, and Democrats have similar plans for the latter.

In the race for control of Congress, Democrats must gain 15 seats to wrest control of the 435-member House, and six to establish a majority in the 100-member Senate.

Strategists in both parties agree the fall campaign already has been marked by two distinct trends. The first, which began after Labor Day, saw gradual movement toward the Republicans as President Bush campaigned vigorously on national security issues.