Many folks on the Right are, to put it mildly, disheartened by the results of the 2008 elections. However, after initially being quite disappointed by the returns, I am incredibly optimistic about what’s to come in 2010 and beyond.  The bottom line is that this year’s elections were by no means a mandate for liberalism. Here is why I am so optimistic about our future:

1. There is a renewed enthusiasm and desire to transform the Republican Party. The rise of forward-looking groups such as RebuildTheParty.com and our own site here at NextGenGOP clearly demonstrates this. Folks at all levels of the Republican Party are abuzz with what we can do to get back on the right track.
2. Historically, the incumbent President’s party loses seats in Congress during midterm elections. Since 1934, the only midterm elections in which the incumbent President’s party saw net gains in Congress were 1934 (FDR, +18), 1998 (Clinton, +5), and 2002 (Bush, +10).
3. Obama’s margin of victory and the Democratic majority are incredibly close to those of the 1992 election – and Republicans were able to retake the majority in 1994. Obama’s popular vote margin and number of electoral votes (+7% and currently +203 EVs) are indeed extremely similar to those of Clinton’s victory of 1992 (+5.3% and +202 EVs).  With these numbers, you could characterize Obama’s win as a landslide, but certainly not a mandate.  Further, the Democrat’s margins of control in the House and Senate (with some races yet to be decided it stands at 256 D - 175 R in the House and 57 D - 40 R in the Senate) almost mirror the majorities produced in ‘92 (258 D - 176 R in the House and 56 D - 44 R in the Senate). Despite this, in 1994, Republicans led by Newt Gingrich’s Contract with America were able to retake Congress, picking up 54 seats in the House and 8 seats in the Senate, and resulting in a 230 R - 204 D majority in the House and 52 R - 48 D in the Senate.  Thus, although it will not be easy, it is certainly not unfathomable to believe that we could witness similar gains in 2010, allowing us to come close to, if not retake, the majority in both the House and Senate.
4. Ideologically, the voting populace remains moderately conservative, and this has not changed since 2004. Looking at CNN’s exit polls from 2004 and 2008, we find the following: in 2004, 21% of the populace identified themselves as liberal, compared with 22% in 2008; 45% considered themselves moderates in 2004 vs. 44% in 2008; and 34% said they were conservative in 2004 with the exact same percentage saying so in 2008.
5. We have an incredible core of fresh, younger, battle-tested faces to help lead the Republican Party going forward. This team includes Sarah Palin, Eric Cantor, and Bobby Jindal.

Last 5 posts by Aaron Marks

• Happy Independence Day! - July 4th, 2009
• Rubio vs. Crist Will Prove Who Controls the GOP - May 20th, 2009
• Announcing the Petition for Our Future - May 17th, 2009
• Let's Give Young Voters a Legitimate Role in the Future of the Republican Party - May 16th, 2009
• It's Time for a Complete Reboot - May 10th, 2009