While there is a certain roller-coaster aspect to most election years, this seems particularly true this cycle. Prior to the September 11 tragedy, the issue agenda was dominated by concerns about economic and domestic issues and the playing field seemed tilted in favor of Democrats. The traditional mid-term election losses for the party holding the White House appeared to be a very distinct possibility. Then, just after September 11, the playing field seemed tilted in favor of Republicans as the President's job approval rating hit stratospheric levels and the issue agenda was clearly centered on issues more favorable to Republicans than Democrats. In recent months, that playing field seems to have leveled, reflecting the underlying partisan equilibrium that exists in this country, two very evenly divided parties and an electorate that is not comfortable with the notion of giving either party all the levers of power.
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