Republicans hold their breath over midterms

Liberals in America no longer make predictions. Indeed it is all they can do to hope. Instead they watch these midterms like children watching a horror movie - peeking through open fingers with their hands half-covering their eyes.

They have a sense of what is to come but until it is over they are waiting to exhale. Six years into a Bush administration humility comes more naturally than hubris. It's as though saying they might win on Tuesday is one of the most certain ways of making sure that they don't.

Given the cruel conclusion to election day two years ago, when exit polls predicted a victory for John Kerry only for the actual polls to deliver the White House to Bush, their caution is understandable.

But then you pick up a copy of the Denver Post and wonder if the die could really roll more in their favour.