Republicans and the Northeast

Ever since former President George W. Bush lost his popularity with Americans, the Republican Party has been in shambles.

Since Bush's approval had dropped, the Republican Party had lost seats in the House, Senate and the governor mansions in almost every section of the country.

One of the places Republicans got hit the hardest was in the northeast, which is almost completely controlled by Democrats now. Only three Republican Senators remain, only a few governors remain and the number of House seats has shrunk so bad that Republicans no longer have one in New England.

Yet, the northeast could be the place where the Republicans can again build the party-mostly in the form of governor races.

According to recent polling and outlooks on the gubernatorial races, Republicans have chances for victory in New Jersey this year, as well as New York, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania. Republicans currently hold the governor's mansion in both Rhode Island and Connecticut.

When it comes to this year's election in New Jersey, incumbent Jon Corzine, a Democratic governor, has been struggling with low approval ratings and a public losing trust with him.

That has allowed Republicans to get back on their feet in New Jersey and take the governor's mansion back from Democratic control. New polling suggests Corzine trails the Republican rival by roughly 10 points consistently.

In New York, Democratic Governor Patterson is facing the same problem as Corzine-unpopularity and more and more of the public distrusting him. A poll of New York voters had Patterson's approval rating at 19 percent. That is as low as it goes for anyone who holds public office. Even Bush didn't hit that low.

That means the polls are translating. There was discussion of a primary facing up between Patterson and Andrew Quomo, the New York Attorney General. Polling suggested that Patterson would be creamed in any primary matchup.

But, Quomo has been marked on Wikipedia as not running, which means Patterson likely will face former New York City mayor Rudy Guiliani. Guiliani was defeating Patterson by 28 points back in May, according to a Rasmussen poll.

Even in Massachusetts, the Republicans have an outside shot. According to Rasmussen's polling, Christie Mihos, a possible Republican challenger, holds a 41 to 40 lead over Deval Patrick. However, a Suffolk University poll suggests Patrick might be in for a primary fight against Democrat Tim Cahill.

Then in Pennsylvania, five of the six best analysts in the political business have the race classified as a "tossup." There have been no candidates announced yet in either party for the race, but with Ed Rendell's negative ratings taking a spike upward, Republicans believe they have a chance

As of now, their strongest candidates include the state Attorney General, Tom Corbett. But other candidates could declare themselves for governor, including House members and other state officials.

In addition, the US Senate races in Connecticut and Delaware also give reason for Republicans to hope.

In Connecticut, Senator Chris Dodd continues to trail by nine points in the latest poll taken out of there to Republican Rob Simmons and in Delaware, rumors have been floating around Representative Mike Castle running for Senate.

Finally, similar polls show Senator Kristen Gillibrand of New York in similar trouble against a possible challenge from George Pataki-the former governor.

This could be what the doctor ordered on a Republican Party that needs an anecdote and needs one fast.