There has long been a tradition in American politics for the fortunes of political parties to ebb and flow over the course of an election cycle; as the tide comes in for one party, it goes out for another. During the closing days of the 1998 midterm election, and even more so just after the impeachment trial, the tide was definitely running in favor of Democrats, giving Republicans every reason to view the 2000 Congressional elections with trepidation. Today that Democratic advantage seems largely gone, and the swells of political fortune seem to have calmed and neither party is entering this phase of the 2000 Congressional elections with any real advantage at this point.

More from the Cook Political Report