Unnerved Democrats

Sweet words from Karl Rove in today's Wall Street Journal:

Republican victories in New Jersey and Virginia governors' races last week—despite eight campaign appearances in the two states by President Barack Obama—have unnerved Democrats.

"Unnerved Democrats".... He continued:

Over the weekend, White House Senior Adviser David Axelrod tried to calm jittery Democrats who might go wobbly on the president's ambitious agenda by telling NBC's Chuck Todd that next year's congressional elections will be "nationalized." Because they "will be a referendum on this White House," he said, voters will turn out for Mr. Obama. Mr. Todd summed up Mr. Axelrod's plans by saying, "It's almost like a page from the Bush playbook of 2002."

I appreciate the reference. Only two presidents have picked up seats in both houses of Congress for their party in their first midterm elections. One was FDR in 1934. The other was George W. Bush in 2002, whose party gained House seats and won back control of the Senate.

Michael Barone wrote in today's Washington Examiner about the latest Rasmussen poll suggesting a possible Republican resurgence in 2010 striking terror in the hearts of Democrats.

The latest numbers on the generic ballot—which party’s candidate for Congress—should strike some terror into the hearts of Democratic incumbents.

Pollster Scott Rasmussen reports that Republicans are leading Democrats this week by a six-point margin, 43% to 37%. Independents, those not identifying with either party, back Republicans 43%-20%.

Our work has just begun ... we have much to do.