New President Faces Dramatically Changed Congress
Democrats poised for a more dominant majority in more than a generation.
Oct. 29, 2008 — -- Unless there are real surprises on Election Day, America's next president will face a dramatically different Congress.
Democrats are poised to pick up more than 15 House seats and as many as 10 Senate seats. If they do, Democrats will have a more dominant congressional majority than any party has had in more than a generation.
Divided government has been a fact of American political life for most of the last 30 years. Just as President Bush has had to deal with Democratic leaders Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid, President Clinton tangled with Newt Gingrich and President Reagan sparred with Tip O'Neil.
Even when Bush and Clinton enjoyed congressional majorities, those majorities were narrow and, for the most part, they had to work with leaders of the other party to get anything passed.
If Barack Obama wins, the expanded Democratic majority on Capitol Hill will make it easier for him, in the beginning at least, to enact a sweeping Democratic agenda.
Consider the early priorities:
