Democrats, on the Offensive, Could Gain Both Houses

The parties see long-shot chances in two other states. In Michigan, Republicans threw a batch of late money behind Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard in his bid to defeat Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D). In Arizona, Democrats see Sen. Jon Kyl (R) potentially vulnerable in his race against developer Jim Pederson (D).

Among interesting new faces likely to join the Senate next year are Rep. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Hennepin County Attorney Amy Klobuchar, from Minnesota.

The new Post-ABC News poll, taken Thursday through yesterday, encouraged Republican hopes that they can limit the damage on Tuesday, although some other national polls continue to show a wider Democratic advantage. In the new poll, support for GOP candidates grew among married men and the quarter of the electorate who say they are getting ahead financially.

Opposition to the war has eased a bit, although a majority still say it was not worth fighting. Almost a third say the war is the top issue determining their vote, and three-quarters of them say they will vote for the Democrat in their district.

Bush's approval rating stands at 40 percent among all Americans and 43 percent among registered voters, a small but statistically insignificant increase in the past two weeks. About twice as many strongly disapprove of him as strongly approve.

Independents favor Democrats by an 18-point margin, but that is less than the 28-point advantage Democrats enjoyed two weeks ago.

The poll also showed that the Republican strategy of trying to make Democrats an unacceptable alternative may be working, at least at the margins.

Two weeks ago, 55 percent said Democratic members of Congress deserved reelection. In the new poll, that shrank to 48 percent. But Republicans remain stuck in the high thirties on the same question.

The distemper with Congress has lapped over into the governors' races. Six Republican House members are trying to move up to governors' mansions, and none has a clear path entering the final three days.

Rep. Bob Beaupez (R-Colo.) is badly trailing former Denver district attorney Bill Ritter (D) in Colorado. Rep. Ernest J. Istook Jr. (R-Okla.) is far behind Gov. Brad Henry (D) in Oklahoma, while Rep. Jim Nussle (R-Iowa) is struggling behind the Democratic secretary of state, Chet Culver, in Iowa.

Three House Republicans are in tight gubernatorial races. Rep. Mark Green (R-Wis.) has run neck-and-neck with Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle (D) but may have slipped slightly in the final week. Nevada Rep. Jim Gibbons (R) has been hurt by allegations that he sexually assaulted a cocktail waitress, and his race against Democrat Dina Titus is now a tossup. In Idaho, Rep. C.L. "Butch" Otter (R) is in a surprisingly close race with newspaper publisher Jerry Brady (D).

In three key states, Democrats not only are taking the governorship from Republicans but also are poised to roll up majorities that could affect the rest of the ticket.