WASHINGTON — The impact of the anti-incumbency wave of 2010 — if, in fact, it materializes in the way that polls would indicate — will be judged in the next few days by the number of seats that change hands in Washington and in statehouses across the country.
In the longer term, though, the importance of any wave election isn’t only about the sheer number of seats gained and lost, but also about when the wave hits—or, more specifically, where it falls in the economic cycles of the country. And if you look at it that way, history suggests that the expected big bang of 2010 may well end up reverberating loudly through our politics for a long time to come.
That’s because, in the years ahead, the country might well experience the kind of economic recovery that the White House had hoped would take hold in time for this year’s elections. This isn’t a sure thing, by any means; some economists are still predicting a long period of Japanese-style stagnation. But most Washington observers seem to be betting on the kind of upturn that’s more evident to voters.
Full Story: Winners Tuesday May Benefit From Economic Cycle – NYTimes.com
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