Democrats poised to make big gains in Congress

WASHINGTON — Congressional Democrats are strengthening their control of Congress by expanding their majorities to levels that could reach those not seen in 15 years.

Democrats had so far picked up four Senate seats with projected wins in North Carolina by state Sen. Kay Hagan, in New Hampshire by former Gov. Jeanne Shaheen, in Colorado by Rep. Tom Udall and in Virginia by former Gov. Mark Warner.

However, Republican Minority Leader and Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky and Sen. Susan Collins of Maine were projected to win re-election in races that the Democrats had targeted.

Senate Democrats hope to win at least nine seats to give them the 60 votes they need to achieve a filibuster-proof Senate. That would enable them to prevent Republicans from blocking the Democrats' agenda on everything from ending the war in Iraq to reducing global warming. Even if they only make it to the high 50s, as many analysts predict, Democrats would be able to work with moderate Republicans to win votes on most major issues.

Senate Democrats now hold a slight majority, with 51 seats out of 100. That includes two independents, Sens. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut and Bernie Sanders of Vermont, who caucus with the Democrats. However, Lieberman has campaigned for Republican presidential nominee John McCain, and there has been speculation that his alliance with Senate Democrats may end after the election.

The last time either party had a filibuster-proof Senate majority was in the late 1970s, when Democrats held 61 seats and Jimmy Carter was president, according to the U.S. Senate Historical Office. The last time one party had more than 55 seats was in 1993 when Democrats had a majority of 57 as newly elected President Bill Clinton took office.

In the House, Democrats hold a solid majority, with 235 out of 435 seats, and are expected to pick up 20 to 30 more seats, according to the nonpartisan Cook Political Report. Neither party has controlled more than 250 seats since 1993, when Democrats held 258 seats, according to the Office of the House Historian.

If Democrats win big in Congress and Barack Obama is president, analysts predict Democrats will push to create universal health care, increase taxes on wealthy Americans and big corporations, and adopt a renewable energy plan. They also will wind down the war in Iraq while boosting troops in Afghanistan, and fund a second economic stimulus plan that would invest billions in public works projects such as road- and bridge-building.