Story of the Midterms, Told Through 5 Races .

The Wall Street Journal ^ | October 26, 2010 | Naftali Bendavid

[Seattle Conservative]

Here are five races that suggest the scope and type of change this election may bring to the House.

This Democrat's Fate is a Litmus Test of the GOP Wave Rep. Raul Grijalva vs. Ruth McClung, Arizona, 7th District If the Republican "wave" reaches historic proportions—but perhaps only if it does—it could swamp Democrats such as Rep. Raul Grijalva.

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Vote May Help Boost GOP's Position With Minorities Tim Scott vs. Ben Frasier, South Carolina, 1st District

A Republican state legislator, Tim Scott, is likely to succeed an outgoing Republican congressman in a conservative district.

But it may tell us a lot about the GOP's future. Mr. Scott is African-American, and there are currently no black Republicans in Congress.

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Murtha Successor Tries to Hold On Rep. Mark Critz vs. Tim Burns, Pennsylvania, 12th District

The district in many ways should be fertile ground for Republicans. Democrats have an edge in voter registration, but many of those voters are white, working-class social conservatives who've been turning away from the Democratic Party.

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Testing the Tide That Came in '06 Rep. Heath Shuler vs. Jeff Miller, North Carolina, 11th District

If there's one congressman who personified the Democratic surge of 2006, it was Heath Shuler.

This race is now a test of whether Democrats who captured conservative districts in 2006 and 2008 can keep those seats.

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Old Guard Threatened Sean Duffy vs. Julie Lassa, Wisconsin, 7th District

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Mr. Duffy is a former star of MTV's "The Real World" and a three-time world lumberjacking champion. He's run an attention-grabbing ad that shows him logrolling a "career politician" into the water.

The Democrat, Wisconsin state Sen. Julie Lassa, portrays herself as a "fresh new voice" who is running "to change the way Washington does business."

More here: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303864404575572591525087262.html?mod=WSJ_hp_LEFTTopStories

[Seattle Conservative]

His take on these 5 races and how they may "suggest the scope and type of change this election may bring to the House"

Sorry, had to cut down what I included due to the 300 word limit

[akapossumdawg]

Go Jeff Miller!!! The national money spent by Shuler in this race is amazing compared to what Miller had to spend. Also, Shuler was ahead by 17 points a month ago and now it's a tie. I honestly cannot stand Shuler for his lies.

[Seattle Conservative]

That would be so sweet if Miller won!

[prairiebreeze]

Hope Ruth can pull it off, I sent her some money.