Report: Democrats Could Regain House Majority in 2012

After the 2010 drubbing, Democrats seeking to regain control of the House in 2012 may have reason to be optimistic. The Washington Post, reporting in part on numbers from the Cook Political Report, says that Democrats will “almost certainly” pick up seats in 2012 and that there is a “tough – though not impossible” chance to retake the majority.

The two parties are basically going to have to defend the same number of seriously endangered seats and the same is true of seats that were won with less than 55 percent of the vote, according to The Fix column in the post. According to the Post and Cook, 57 Republicans won with under 55 percent. The Fix reported last month that 63 Republicans hold seats in districts Obama won in 2008.

However, before Democrats begin popping champagne corks, the Fix notes the Democrats have a long way to go — especially considering that Republicans hold such a strong hand at the state redistricting level.