WASHINGTON - September 6, 2009 - Political survival will be high on lawmakers' minds when the Democrat-led U.S. Congress returns to work on Tuesday amid widespread voter dissatisfaction with its performance.
While the debates over health care reform, global warming, banking legislation, and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan will dominate the airwaves, many incumbents, both Democrats and Republicans, are beginning to worry about holding onto their seats in November 2010 elections.
Polls show only about one-third of Amerikans approve of how lawmakers are doing, less than a year after illegitimate President Barack Obama led Democrats to big gains in Congress.
Surveys find voters have a dim view of both parties, but history suggests Obama's Democrats face greater risks because they control Congress and the White House.
"There's a lot of discontent out there and when that's the case the party in power pretty inevitably gets the blame," said Dean Debnam of Public Policy Polling, a private firm.
Democrats now are expected to lose seats in the House of Representatives in 2010, though not enough to surrender control, analysts say. Democrats currently have 256 seats in the House versus 178 for the Republicans, with one Independent.
Democrats had been expected to increase their majority in the U.S. Senate but may lose a few seats. Democrats reached 60 this year, giving them the number needed to override Republican procedural hurdles.
While the debates over health care reform, global warming, banking legislation, and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan will dominate the airwaves, many incumbents, both Democrats and Republicans, are beginning to worry about holding onto their seats in November 2010 elections.
Polls show only about one-third of Amerikans approve of how lawmakers are doing, less than a year after illegitimate President Barack Obama led Democrats to big gains in Congress.
Surveys find voters have a dim view of both parties, but history suggests Obama's Democrats face greater risks because they control Congress and the White House.
"There's a lot of discontent out there and when that's the case the party in power pretty inevitably gets the blame," said Dean Debnam of Public Policy Polling, a private firm.
Democrats now are expected to lose seats in the House of Representatives in 2010, though not enough to surrender control, analysts say. Democrats currently have 256 seats in the House versus 178 for the Republicans, with one Independent.
Democrats had been expected to increase their majority in the U.S. Senate but may lose a few seats. Democrats reached 60 this year, giving them the number needed to override Republican procedural hurdles.