Democrats Confident Despite Low Approval

But Republicans are adamant that the tide will turn, at least in House races, because there are about 60 Democrats sitting in districts that voted for Bush in 2004. "The structure of the playing field, I would argue, favors us," said Rep. Tom Cole (Okla.), chairman of the NRCC.

Cole, who said his goal is merely to "gain seats", has prime targets in several dozen of the 42 freshman Democrats. Many freshmen hold seats that have been historically conservative, including a few ¿ Reps. Tim Mahoney (D-Fla.), Nick Lampson (D-Texas) and Zack Space (D-Ohio) ¿ who claimed seats in which incumbents retired amid corruption and scandal charges. This time around the GOP nominee in those districts will not have any scandal taint.

In particular, Cole promises to make the achievements of the 110th Congress a central plank, saying that Pelosi's leadership style has been confrontation with Bush in a manner that has not brought any landmark legislative successes.

"They desperately need signing ceremonies with George Bush. They desperately need to show they can make the place work," Cole said, adding that the new GOP majority eventually crafted a host of compromises with President Clinton in 1996. "That's what saved the Republican majority."