
Texas Democratic Senate candidate Ron Kirk kisses the hand of his wife, Matrice, after conceding the race to Republican opponent John Cornyn
Conventional wisdom says that midterm elections turn on kitchen-table concerns, and the Democrats failed to make strides on issues that favored them: a lackluster economy, a swooning Dow, an emerging health care crisis, soaring prescription drug costs, corporate corruption. Even before Election Day, the most ardent Democrats were furious that their leaders had failed to draw clear lines between the parties on these issues. Why, many have asked, didn't they offer an explicit agenda of what they would accomplish if they had the entire Congress under their control?
The focus now shifts to presidential politics, and there, Democrats believe, their candidates won't feel nearly so constrained. Most of the bigger names who are considering the race including Al Gore expect to make that decision by the end of the year. Others may be making their decisions within days. That's why it is safe to bet, despite President Bush's popularity, that the Democrats will soon be offering much tougher talk on the President's programs. As silver linings go, it's a thin one but for now, that hope is just about the only thing keeping the Democrats going.