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John Daley ReportingOn Election Day, less than a week away, voters will answer the question that right now can only be debated -- Is 2006 a watershed political year?
This surely is the political season and polls show there's more unrest nationally than anytime since Republicans took over Congress in 1994. Is there a general anti-incumbent tide brewing? We visited one hotbed of political interest to find out.
Polls show most Americans think the nation is going in the wrong direction. With the President's ratings low and the Iraq War causing great angst, 2006 has the makings of a political storm.
We checked out a visit of Senator Bob Bennett to the U of U's Hinckley Institute of Politics. Much of the Q and A was about Iraq, and those we spoke with say they see signs of voter discontent, like this Democrat.
Hailey Anderson, Uni. of Utah Student: "I think there's definitely a lot of controversy right now, especially with democrats and republicans and who is going to be controlling what."
...and this Republican.
Eric Jeppsen, Uni. of Utah Student: "I myself in recent months and stuff, studying the newspaper and media, have questioned my political parties' views."
Sen. Robert Bennett, (R) Utah: "There is a wave that has been building and it is an anti-incumbent wave."
In this heated atmosphere some are drawing comparisons with 1974, 1980 and 1994, when significant shifts in Congress happened. Both sides are scaring up their voters - Democrats with fear of an unchecked President Bush, the GOP with a House led by would-be Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
Mark Bore, Uni. of Utah Student: "I think most of these kinds of things are preaching to the choir."
Traditionally incumbents with a big edge in money and name recognition win 95% of the seats, but this year expect that percentage to slide.
Tim Chambless, Univ. of Utah Political Science Professor: "Basically the common theme, voters are looking for change."
Sen. Robert Bennett, (R) Utah: "My expectation is that we will have heavy losses in the House, very possibly enough to lose control of the House. We'll have losses in the Senate; I do not think it's enough for us to lose control of the senate."
Election Day is Tuesday and people are already voting early.
By the way, one major concern lurking out there is that there could be problems with the new voting machines, particularly in some other states. The nightmare scenario is the control of Congress hanging on a few contested races, in other words, déjà vu, another Florida.
