NU Online News Service, Oct. 27, 12:00 p.m. EDT

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.--In describing the midterm election, just several days away, political analyst Charlie Cook spoke in terms the insurance industry could understand: Democrats are "enormously overexposed."

Considered one of the best political handicappers in the nation, Mr. Cook told the crowd at the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America (PCI) meeting here that Americans simply do not have the patience or tolerance to put up with its perception that progress is not being made.

Democrats, who won over the House and Senate four years ago, will feel the brunt of popular dissatisfaction--even though voters for the most part have not forgiven Republicans for their role in guiding the country to where it is today when they were in control, he said.

"It's not about you [Republicans]," Mr. Cook said. "It's about the rejection of Democrats. People are very intolerant. They have no patience."

Therefore, Mr. Cook predicted, once again, it is the Republicans' turn to "get on the bronco" and try to avoid being thrown off.

"Consider this an unearned win," Mr. Cook said he tells his Republican friends. "You are not the victor, but the beneficiary."

Mr. Cook forecasted a 52-seat gain for Republicans in the House of Representatives--giving Republicans the majority--and an eight-seat gain in the Senate. If his prediction for a Republican takeover in the House is errant, it will be because more seats, not less, were won, he added.

This dynamic--a Republican-controlled House and Democratic-controlled Senate--will cause a lot of stalled legislation, he predicted.

"The good news is that for the next two years it will be hard for ill-conceived legislation to get past Capitol Hill," Mr. Cook said. "The bad news is the same can be said for good legislation."

Americans are expressing real concerns about the future and direction of the country--spending far less, saving more and remaining skeptical of government. They face a 9.6 percent unemployment rate. Only 29 months have had a similar rate of unemployment in the 741 months since the stat was first calculated in January 1948, Mr. Cook said.

African Americans and Hispanics, groups who had voted for President Obama, now each face a higher rate of unemployment than before the president took office.

The facts are staggering, Mr. Cook said, noting that Democrats will pay for what the numbers say. On Election Day, the party will absorb the anger and fear of voters, who again have no patience, especially in light of the current administration's ambitious agenda--"that ticked off a lot of people," Mr. Cook said.

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