Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
AMERICANS VOTED TODAY in key midterm elections expected to hand control of the Senate to Republicans – an outcome that would dash Barack Obama’s hopes for a productive final two years at the White House.
Many key races could go down to the wire, but polls suggest Republicans are on course to win the six Senate seats they would need to gain control of both chambers of Congress for the first time since 2006.
Democrats – who were working feverishly to draw voters to the polls in a last-gasp effort to stave off disaster – could lose Senate seats in as many as 10 states.
The party of an incumbent president historically fares badly in elections in the middle of his second term.
Every president since Ronald Reagan has left office with the opposition party controlling Congress, and Obama is likely to be no different.
Many Republicans have essentially based their campaigns on attacks against the president and his policies like his troubled health care reform.
Although the economy has improved gradually since the 2008 recession, the national mood is far from buoyant.
Economic gains have not translated into support in swing states with Democratic Senate incumbents such as Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado and Louisiana – all states Republicans could win if they have a good night.
Much media attention has focused on recent crises like Ebola and advances by Islamic State jihadists in Syria and Iraq, but polls suggest voters’ minds were made up months ago.
Construction worker Charles Kaster told AFP outside a polling station in Berryville, Virginia:
We’ve given the other side six years to have their way with things and it doesn’t seem to be working out too good, so I think it’s time to switch back to somebody else.
‘Worst’ map for Democrats
Obama – all too aware of how his low approval rating makes him a lightning rod for Republicans – acknowledged that this election cycle’s Senate map has made it the toughest uphill battle for his party in half a century.
“This is probably the worst possible group of states for Democrats since Dwight Eisenhower,” Obama told WNPR, a radio station in safely Democratic Connecticut.
Republicans have successfully capitalized on Obama’s unpopularity to convince voters of a need for new leadership on Capitol Hill.
Democrats hold a 55 to 45 seat advantage in the Senate, where 36 seats are up for grabs. Republicans control the House of Representatives.
Republicans, whom several top forecasters give a 75 percent or better chance of winning the Senate, have expressed confidence in the home stretch.
“Victory is in the air, we’re going to bring it home tomorrow night!” an ebullient Senator Mitch McConnell, the top Republican and potential new Senate majority leader, told a crowd in Kentucky on Monday.
Republicans have hammered home the message that a vote for Democrats is a vote for a tarnished Obama and his policies.
McConnell has said Republicans would be “responsible” Senate leaders, potentially cooperating with Obama on issues like tax reform.
But the party will seek to breathe life into their many stalled jobs bills, gain approval of the delayed Keystone XL pipeline, roll back some carbon emission regulations, and tweak Obamacare.
Experts predict the Republicans will gain seats in the House, where all 435 seats are in play.
Voters will also elect dozens of state governors and hundreds of local legislators, and decide on a variety of ballot initiatives including marijuana legalization.
A muddled picture?
However successful the Republicans are, a complete picture may not emerge Tuesday.
There are strong prospects for runoffs in Louisiana and Georgia, where rules require a second round if winners do not earn more than 50 percent of the vote.
Add to that a probable days-long ballot count in remote Alaska, where there is an unpredictable and tight race.
Louisiana’s runoff would be on December 6, but a Georgia runoff would be on January 6, which means senators may not know who controls the chamber when Congress opens January 3.
Complicating matters, Kansas independent Greg Orman is running neck-and-neck with veteran Republican Senator Pat Roberts.
Should Orman win, he would have to choose which party he caucuses with, and he was giving no hints Tuesday.
“I’m not going there to represent the Democratic Party or the Republican Party. I’m going there to represent Kansas,” Orman told CNN.
Democrats were meanwhile counting on their intense ground game – perfected during Obama’s presidential runs – to get supporters to the polls until the very last minute.
“Our get-out-the-vote teams will be going full-throttle until then,” embattled Alaska Senator Mark Begich wrote in a note to donors.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Remember this only impacts women who do not receive company top ups on their mat leave pay so lowest paid . At an absolute minimum they should have their maternity extended as they can’t go back to their jobs . The gov showed how fast they could move by creating the pandemic payment so they need to address this anomoly.
@Laura Grimes: I agree that this anomaly needs to be addressed immediately as someone who has recently returned from Mat leave. However, it affects more than just low paid workers as those who have been on unpaid leave prior to returning to work will also be disproportionately affected.
@Laura Grimes: no it also affects women whose wages were topped up by their employer during maternity leave because Revenue are only considering the top-up amount and not taking into account the maternity benefit which makes up their total wage. On top of this it affects men on paternity benefit for three weeks over January or February.
I often wonder why the government have to be dragged kicking and screaming to adjudication before they relent and do the right thing, it just wastes more time and money (ours) before they are made to put it right, ..and followed by the usual apologises.
@Honeybee: because they’re just waiting for you to give up and forget about it…
This applies to men as well who were on paternity leave as well as anyone, male or female, who was on reduced or no pay in Jan or Feb 2020.. it is not related to maternity leave or women alone… This is not saying it is just or correct but I hope that men will be treated equally here too…
@Niall Ó Cofaigh: Yes for the love of god let’s hope the men are treated equally here, because they always have to end their careers and take on the burden of childcare, it’s society’s most pressing issue today!
@Niall Ó Cofaigh: paternity leave is 6 weeks, so you would have at least one payslip from January or February. Non-issue
@Julian Friesel: What about people who might have been on sick leave, with say a heart attack? It does seem so obviously unjust and I don’t see why anyone would have to bring it to court to get it corrected.
This is discrimination they could just use the last full pay slip they had before they started maternity leave
@Buster Cat: You’re actually on to something there when you think about what you’ve said and the whole Covid19 payment scheme.
Television gives us a window on the world so why hasn’t the Irish Human Rights Commission objected to the laws restricting our right to own a television The government insists that those in direct provision have access to sky tv because government considers access a human right issue
@Richard Russell: What law restricts our right to own a tv, this is a new one to me?????
@Tony Harris: Tony you need a tv licence to own a tv
@Richard Russell: and that is a law that restricts your rights? I see without a tv you are making your own drama!
I came off work for an operation which was cancelled due to the pandemic. I stopped work 2 week before covid payment came in.Im stuck on 203 euro until i can have it. Until then i recieve €239 per week for me and 2 kids. My wife has 2 weeks left on maternity so we will loose out double. Ive worked for years. I Feel robbed.
@james kelly: to clarify i am on sick leave not the dole. Have health insurance but my job are not helping me. Even took my diesel card and toll tag until i come back
@james kelly: That’s wrong too – I’m sure anyone in your situation can do with an equal payment. I hope you get your operation as soon as possible.
And none of these unions TDs etc batted an eyelid when the covid payment wasn’t given to job seekers many who would have had payslips from January and February
have your say