US Democrats may have a long way to go to gain power in the House

Washington, Apr 15 (ANI): Democrats may have a tough time gaining majority in the House though they are optimistic about the presidential elections scheduled to take place in due November, a latest report has revealed.

According to the Rothenberg Political Report, the party would need 25 seats, which they lost to the Republicans in the 2010 elections to gain power in the House.

"House Democrats retiring in such states as Arkansas, Indiana, North Carolina, Oklahoma and even Illinois along with a "surprising" problem in recruiting good candidates leaves the party with "limited" opportunities," Fox News quoted an analyst Stuart Rothenberg, as saying.

Rothenberg said the biggest recruiting problems are in Pennsylvania's 7th District, held by GOP Rep. Pat Meehan; West Virginia's 1st District, held by GOP Rep. David McKinley, and Illinois' 12th District, where Democratic Rep. Jerry Costello is currently retiring.

"The number of seats Democrats need to win is getting larger by the day," Paul Lindsay, spokesman for the National Republican Congressional Committee, was quoted as saying.

However, a Democratic Representative, Steny Hoyer, stressed that roughly 50 percent of 76 Congressional districts on which the House Democrats are aiming, "are really solid opportunities for us".

"I think our chances are reasonably good that we can take back the House, and if the economy continues to perform as it's been performing, I think we will take back the House," Hoyer said.

Rothenberg believed that the under-performing economy and concern that lawmakers are not taking the country in the right direction has put both parties on substantial risk. (ANI)