Mid-Afternoon Rumblings

Democrats are apparently more optimistic than Republicans about 2008. 88% of Democrats expect their Party to gain seats in Congress in '08, compared with only 34% of Republicans who expect that the GOP will gain Congressional seats.

North Carolina: Public Policy Polling (in PDF) gauged a hypothetical race between Liddy Dole and NC Attorney General Roy Cooper. Dole beat Cooper 46-36. This should be very encouraging news to Cooper should he be seriously considering a race. Before he's even a candidate, he starts only ten points down and holds Dole to under 50, as Congressman Brad Miller, Congressman Bob Etheridge, and Governor Mike Easley all did. Further, when asked if they would vote for a Democrat or a Republican for President, North Carolina voters pick the Democrat over the Republican 47-42. Lots of momentum in North Carolina waiting to be capitalized on. (HT: Blue South)

Oregon: State Senator, physician, and Vietnam veteran Alan Bates let on that he is seriously considering a challenge to Gordon Smith.

Time's Eric Pooley offers a very insightful look at the psychology of Al Gore. A very interesting read.