Start Paddling
Oct 28th, 2006 at 6:54 pm by Susie
WASHINGTON - Republicans were supposed to be great mapmakers.
After the 2000 census, Republicans in Florida and other states created new congressional maps to give their party a strategic advantage. By shifting their voters into select House districts, the GOP gained two seats in Florida and at least 10 others around the country.
But with the latest polls showing low approval of President Bush, tremendous discontent with Congress and lots of bitterness about the Iraq war, it appears the Republicans’ creative mapmaking won’t be enough to stop an expected Democratic tidal wave. Political analysts and redistricting experts say the wave will probably be so large that it will breach some of the most solid Republican districts.
Chuck Todd, editor of the political Web site Hotline, likened the Republican-drawn boundaries to levees in New Orleans. They can withstand a modest storm, but not a Category 5 hurricane like the one forecast for Election Day.
“Waves get too big,” he said.
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