WASHINGTON, Reuter: The stakes are un usually high including control of the senate, possibly for many years as President Reagan’s Republicans and the Democratic opposition swing into campaigns for 1986 midterm elections.

With the Labour Day holiday, the traditional opener for vote stumping season, thousands of candidates across the land were plunging into a two month fray for seats in the U.S, Congress, State Governorships and countless local offices in balloting to be held on November 4.

Reagan’s job is not on the line but his prestige is, together with the legacy of strength especially the coveted senate majority he hopes to leave his revitalized party.

‘Unlike the last midterm congressional elections of 1982, when economic recession and high unemployment were the talk of the country, no major national issues overshadow this election as clearly decisive voting concerns.

‘A variety of topics ranging from national security concerns to a sluggish economy and soaring trade deficit will figure in various races, depending on local interest.

All 435 seats in the House of Representatives will be renewed for two year terms. Opinion polls and political analysts forecast an easy triumph for the Democrats, who are expected to add to their current 252-180 majority. Three seats are vacant.

Thirty six of the 50 powerful State Governors are also on the line and Republicans, now out gunned 34-16 in this category, hope to make major gains.

In both parties, however, far the greatest interest centers on the battle for the Senate, where Republican control has given Reagan precious liver age throughout his presidency.

Thirty four of the 100 seats will be renewed for six year terms but the composition of the slots gives the Democrats a tactical advantage they will not have again for some time.

Twenty-two of the vulnerable seats are now held by Republicans. ‘The Democrats are defending only 12 Thus the Democrats have been pointing to this showdown as their best chance to recapture the Senaie, now 5347 Republican. A shift of only four seats would do the trick

‘Such realignments’ ‘on’ Capital Hill do not come often. The Democrats held the Senate for 26 years before losing it in the backwash of Reagan’s 1980 Presidential landslide,

But the mathematics shift against the Democrats after this. In 1988, they will defend 19 of the 33 states then at stake. In’ 1990, 17 Democratic and 16 Republican seats will be up.

“This is the Democrats big chance,” says political analyst William Schneider of the American Enterprise Institute, “If they fail this year, I don’t think they’ll get the Senate back this century without a devastating economic decline.”

Maine Senator George Mitchell, chairman of the Senate Democratic Campaign Committee, boldly predicts that his party will ‘emerge with a 53 to 47 command from the November balloting.

Republicans scoff, saying they may lose one or two seats but should keep their majority unless the economy collapses in the next month an event most experts say is unlikely.

The White House plans all out efforts by Reagan on behalf of any Republican in a tough fight.

Republican strategists say Democratic control of the Senate, which would tum over the key judiciary and Foreign Relations Committees to Liberal chairman, would impair Reagan’s ability to govern in his last two years in office.

You have to give him a chance to come to bat, if he’s shut out in both houses that won’t happen, Senate Republican campaign director Thomas Grison says.

Article extracted from this publication >> September 5, 1986