Thaindian News

Washington, July 12 (ANI): President Obama’s top spokesman admitted Sunday there’s “no doubt” Democrats could lose their grip over the House of Representatives in this fall’s elections.

“I think there is no doubt there are enough seats in play that could cause Republicans to gain control. There’s no doubt about that,” the New York daily News quoted White House press secretary Robert Gibbs, as saying.

Gibbs seemed calculated to scare swing voters and fire up the party’s somewhat dispirited grass-roots activist base for the fall campaign by raising the specter that the political right could seize the House. Republicans also stand to chip away at the Democrats’ 59-seat Senate majority.

The paper also states that Obama’s poll numbers have sagged as he has tried to wrestle with a slow economic recovery, a still-controversial health care reform plan, the early bungling of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill disaster and a costly war in Afghanistan.

Besides, the Justice Department’s suit last week to block Arizona’s controversial law to catch illegal immigrants has also worried Democratic lawmakers in the West.

Meanwhile, Attorney General Eric Holder has said that the Government might file a second suit if there is evidence of racial profiling in Arizona.

Gibbs said the Democrats would have to fight hard to maintain a House majority.

“The car’s out of the ditch, the car’s back on the road. The question is, are you going to give the keys back to the Republicans and let them drive it back into the ditch again?” Gibbs asked.

One top Republican said Obama is wrong to lay fault “at the foot of President Bush.”

“You can’t blame President Bush for everything,” Sen. Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.) said.

Democrats now hold a 255-to-178 edge in the House, with two vacancies in the 435-member chamber.

Analysts say 40 to 60 House seats could be in play by fall.

Republicans would need to take back about 40 seats to reclaim the majority and oust House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.). (ANI)