[areafiftyone]

My own best guess is that Bush will win in a bitter and potentially tighter-than-expected race. And that he will return to office with the respect, if not always the gratitude, of the American people.

This I agree with. I believe the democreeps are still angry and bitter about the 2000 election and will make it increasingly harder in 2004 for us but I think they and the media have also forgotten while "feeling sorry for themselves" that Republican who get riled up like we did in 2000 can be a formidible force to deal with.

[jdege]

I expect a Bush landslide. And I expect the GOP to pick up almost enough Senate seats to end a filibuster, but not quite.

As a result, I expect 2005-6 to be even more divisive, and the Democrats even more obstructionist than they are now.

[dixie sass]

It isn't going to be what the Democrats do or don't do that is going to make this a tough election - it's what the conservative base across this country DOESN'T do.

The majority of conservatives are so convinced that the Republicans will win in 2004, that they are overlooking the third party candidates. They are overlooking the people within the conservative base that are disgusted with their own party, so much so that they are going to switch to a third paty.

Remember how Clinton took office? It can happen again!