Democrats' Pocketbook Campaign Comes Up Empty

Democrats admit they're not likely to score sizeable political gains this year. Democratic pollster Mark Mellman ventures that there's a "greater likelihood" his party will maintain leadership in the Senate, where it has a shaky one-seat advantage. He sounds less hopeful about the Republican-controlled House, saying chances to overcome a six-seat deficit are "still in the realm of possibility."

"The whole set of issues around national security and terrorism has certainly elevated the standing of President Bush, and there's a halo effect from that elevated standing to the Republican Party in general," Mellman said. On top of that, he added, Republicans have tried to "blur the differences" with reform-minded Democrats on issues such as overhauling the pension system.

Certainly, the GOP has talked up its own plans for righting the economy. "Republicans have done a number of things most Americans are aware of, like two tax cuts and $70 billion worth of stimulus," points out Chuck Gabriel, senior Washington analyst for Prudential.

He added that a recent poll showed voters are more likely to blame the continuing downturn on normal business cycles and the war on terrorism than on the Republican party.

Indeed, others say the Democrats' strategy has failed to gain traction simply because voters are now less likely to view the economy as a partisan issue. "I believe that over time, people are finally catching onto the truth," said Sabato, "which is that nobody controls a $10-trillion a year economy."