GOP operative Karl Rove says he agrees with professor Larry Sabato's predictions for likely Republican gains in both houses of Congress in November's midterm elections.
Sabato, director of the University of Virginia Center for Politics, lays out his theory for why Democrats should be worried in
recent Politico column.
President Barack Obama's
bad approval numbers, the weak economy and the election playing field are the three main factors, Sabato says.
The economy, Rove said, will play a factor mainly if it is bad. Most people don't think they are doing well, he said, and blame that feeling on the perception – or reality – that the Affordable Care Act is hurting their pocketbooks.
The playing field, he said, gives Republicans "a big advantage." Redistricting in 2011 favored the GOP.
"There's conceivably 40 Democrat seats in play, and maybe somewhere less than 15 Republican seats in play," in the House, Rove said. In the Senate, "Democrats are in deep trouble," he said.