...in two weeks thanks to Ed Rendell and Bob Casey. I live the PA-18 and actually tried to support the Chad Kluko Kampaign right after the primary but frankly they didn't get back to me for weeks after I signed up online to volunteer. This is a common problem with Dems and one of the weak links that we have to shore up if we are to match and beat the red campaign machine. I ended up throwing a lot of money to Jason Altmire in the nearby PA-04 and I think he is a great campaigner.
That said, Kluko may benefit from a huge turnout by dems voting for Rendell and Casey and this may be a trend that helps us in several states.
Both Casey and Rendell have outpolled their competition by double digits since the primary and both Fourth and the Eighteenth lean blue registration-wise. Governor and Senator races drive people to polls and in this angry environment I don't see Dems showing up to vote against Ric Santorum then pulling the Republican lever for congressman. Much like Doug Walgren a dozen years ago vs. Herr Santorum, Tim Murphy may wake up Nov. 7th an entrenched encumbant and go to sleep a flummoxed, no-job, future pharmaceutical lobbiest loser.
PA has at least four high profile races that are polling very close or downright Dem but many other races may be swayed by a combination of a strong, organized and well funded Governor combined with a hated Republican Senator on the ticket. A safe republican may find himself swept out without warning by the turnout tide. This may mean PA itself giving the blues four or five seats on the Hill. The best news is that PA isn't alone with this equation.
While Sherrod Brown has shown a significant lead over the DOA Sen. DeWine in OH, Ken Blackwell has reach almost Katherine Harris-like unpopularity. This could well depress red voters even more than Diebold can depress urban blues. Could Ohio provide another few "Blue Tide Surprises".
No state better exemplifies this turnout dilemma for reds more than New York. Frankly, with the Clinton / Spitzer tag team at the top of the ticket a seemingly solid GOPer could be up by ten in the polls on Monday but flounder when the faithful decide to stay home and pray for their party's soul on Tuesday.
It is only an optimistic theory based on logic and this country has clearly elected to avoid logic this millenium but it is a theory that lets me sleep a little better through the next fortnight.