Who Will Win in Mid-Term Elections?

Oct. 29, 2006 — -- ABC News tackled the game of politics today with its election pre-game show. Heading into the last week before the November mid-term elections, ABC News correspondents Jake Tapper, Cokie Roberts and Sam Donaldson weighed in on which party would take Congress. Democrats need to pick up six seats to take control of the Senate and 15 seats to take control of the House. This is what they said.

Senate Races

Pennsylvania

Sen. Rick Santorum, Republican incumbent

Bob Casey, Democratic challenger

Jake Tapper

There are a lot of social conservatives in central Pennsylvania. Casey is pro-gun and anti-abortion rights. He's doing very well in central Pennsylvania.

Cokie Roberts

Santorum is now trying to appeal to the state's moderates. In the suburbs of Philadelphia, traditionally moderate Republicans are trending more toward Democrats.

Sam Donaldson

But a Santorum-Clinton ticket will never fly.

Tennessee

Bob Corker, Republican

Rep. Harold Ford Jr., Democrat

Roberts

Tennessee is trending more and more Republican. Corker is the favorite to score the most touchdowns in this game. Ford is very good candidate -- a moderate Democrat. The ads against him have probably helped because of so much publicity.

Tapper

In the South, there is the secret 15 percent who say they'll vote for an African American candidate. But at the end of the day, they don't.

Virginia

Sen. George Allen, Republican incumbent

James Webb, Democratic challenger

Donaldson

Allen should win, but he made one gaffe after another, so it's very tight. Apparently the issues are character.

Will the Democrats Take the Senate?

Roberts

They have to win every seat.

Donaldson

They'll be a seat shy.

House Races

New Mexico

Rep. Heather Wilson, Republican Incumbent

Patricia Madrid, Democratic challenger

Donaldson

This time, Wilson is down in the polls because of Bush and Iraq. She supported him in the war, and Madrid is just blocking her every moment.

Tapper

The question is whether they're voting on candidacy or on the war in Iraq.

Roberts

That is the whole race in the House this year.

Connecticut

Rep. Christopher Shays, Republican incumbent

Diane Farrell, Democratic challenger

Tapper

Iraq is impeding his [Shays'] reelection campaign.

Will the Democrats Take the House?

Donaldson

Yes.

Roberts

Probably.

Tapper

Yes, polls seem to indicate that.