Senate: GOP +8 seats (WA, NV, CO, IL, PA, WI, IN, AK)

House: GOP +60 seats

After being written off as a dead party following Obama’s historic 2008 victory, Republicans are poised to make significant gains in today’s election. An inability to bring down the unemployment rate and the overselling of the potential impact of the stimulus package has provided Republicans with plenty of campaign fodder. Further, the Administration’s tone-deaf focus on health care appears to have backfired and placed many Democrats that won election in 2006 and 2008 at-risk. Despite a legislatively successful session (in terms of the impact of legislation passed), the President and the Congress’s inability to coordinate, stay-on, and push a unified and compelling message will prove to be its ultimate demise.

While I projected Republicans to make significant mid-term gains in the conclusion of my 2008 election preview, I never expected the gains to be of this magnitude and depth. Although Republicans have made things significantly more difficult for themselves through their Senate nominees in Nevada, Delaware, Kentucky, Alaska, and Colorado, it appears that the tea party, conventional republicans, and independents have coalesced around the nominated candidates (except in Delaware). Voter’s rejection of the party in power will provide the enthusiasm and turnout necessary to propel Republicans into control of the House and within striking distance in the Senate. Final Prediction is GOP +8 in the Senate and +60 in the House.