99 Democrat Seats in Play

Politico is full of bad news for Democrats:

With two weeks remaining until Election Day, the political map has expanded to put Democrats on the run across the country — with 99 Democratic-held House seats now in play, according to a POLITICO analysis, and Republicans well in reach of retaking the House.

It’s a dramatic departure from the outlook one year ago — and a broader landscape than even just prior to the summer congressional recess. As recently as early September, many Republicans were hesitant to talk about winning a majority for fear of overreaching.

Today, however, the nonpartisan Cook Political Report predicts a GOP net gain of at least 40 House seats, with 90 Democratic seats in total rated as competitive or likely Republican.

"When Chairman [Pete] Sessions and Leader [John] Boehner said that 100 House seats were in play, Democrats scoffed,” said Ken Spain, the National Republican Congressional Committee’s communications director. “Today, they aren't laughing anymore."

Getting to 39 is not going to be that difficult. In fact, getting to 59 may not be that difficult. And a lot of incumbent Dems who were planning an easy ride to re-election are scrambling like they haven't had to before. Some big names may go back to the House next year, but they will have had to sweat out an election night with narrow victories after several previous elections in which they won with wide margins.