Game on

Republicans bolstered by the ultraconservative tea party movement have ridden the crest of a wave of American fear and dissatisfaction to this Election Day. The tea party,a loose-knit group of organisations opposed to federal government influence on citizens lives,sprang to life after Obama took the White House. Pre-vote polling unanimously showed the business-friendly Republicans poised to grab the majority in the House,with a lesser chance of taking charge in the Senate.

Republicans need 40 more seats to win the House,a goal that polls indicate they have a strong chance of exceeding. Races for more than 100 of the 435 seats are competitive,mostly in Democratic-held districts. Republicans need a net gain of 10 seats out of 37 on the ballot to win a majority in the 100-seat Senate,a tougher road that requires them to win all the tight races. Republicans buoyantly forecast a new era of divided government. But the party is looking over its shoulder at the tea party movement that rattled the Republican establishment in the primaries. Obama has sought to keep this election from becoming a referendum on his first two years in office,but Republicans refused to go along. This election is entirely about him Obama, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell said.

Races to Watch

HOUSE OF REPS

Floridas 24th District First-term Democratic incumbent Suzanne Kosmas,who backed the stimulus package and healthcare overhaul,has been on the defensive in a Republican-leaning district. Republican challenger Sandy Adams has been backed by an influx of outside spending.Louisianas 2nd District Freshman Joseph Cao,the first Vietnamese American in Congress,is the most vulnerable House Republican and faces a tough fight in a Democratic district. Colorados 4th District In a Republican-leaning district in eastern Colorado,first-term incumbent Democrat Betsy Markey faces Republican challenger Cory Gardner. She has aggressively defended her votes for the stimulus and healthcare overhaul.

Texas 17th District Ten-term incumbent Democrat Chet Edwards has kept his career alive by reaching across the aisle in his heavily Republican district. Republican businessman Bill Flores may put an end to that streak. Edwards has refused to commit to backing House Speaker Nancy Pelosi if he is re-elected. Floridas 8th District First-term Democrat Alan Grayson became a target for conservatives last year when he described the Republican healthcare plan as die quickly. He ran a series of attacks on Republican Dan Webster,including one calling him Taliban Dan for his positions on social,marital issues. Ohios 1st District Democratic incumbent Steve Driehaus won in 2008. That is unlikely this time around,and Driehaus might pay the price in the rematch with former Republican Representative Steve Chabot. Colorados 3rd District Democrat John Salazar is in a tight rematch with his 2006 Republican opponent Scott Tipton. Salazar has criticised Tipton for slamming the economic stimulus Bill.

SENATE

CALIFORNIA Vulnerable three-term Democratic Senator Barbara Boxer has a small,dwindling lead in polls over former Hewlett-Packard chief Carly Fiorina. Fiorina stormed the normally reliably Democratic state in a late bid for votes and attacked Boxer for being a rubberstamp for President Barack Obama.

ILLINOIS Obamas former Senate seat is the focus of a tight and expensive battle between Republican Representative Mark Kirk and Democratic state Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias in a Democratic-leaning state.

WEST VIRGINIA Popular Democratic Governor Joe Manchin was an early favourite to sweep into the vacated Senate seat of the late Democrat Robert Byrd,but Republican businessman John Raese has made it a tight race in a state where Obama is unpopular.

COLORADO Tea Party favourite Ken Buck,who beat the Republican candidate in a primary,has taken a small lead in some polls over Democratic incumbent Michael Bennet. WASHINGTON Three-term Democratic Senator Patty Murray is in a close race with Republican challenger Dino Rossi. Rossi accuses Murray of aiding the growth of the budget deficit.

CONNECTICUT Popular Democratic state attorney general Richard Blumenthal has opened a lead after facing a tough race against big-spending former World Wresting Entertainment chief executive Linda McMahon.