What the 2003 elections (Ca. Miss. Ky. & La) mean for 2004

[Swing low, sweet chariot. Comin' for to carry me home.]

Sorry to say, but I don't think the 2003 elections will have any impact on 2004.

Going into 2004, the Dems simply don't have any trump cards to play - since they don't hold the reigns of power.

But the GOP was two HUGE trumps cards: 1) gay marriage, and 2) the possible retirement of a SCOTUS justice & a Hispanic nominee.....put these two together and they could very well propel Bush to a 45+ state sweep!

[Swing low, sweet chariot. Comin' for to carry me home.]

The one over-riding trend is anti-incumbency and voter anger

I don't see how 2003 can be characterized as anti-incumbent, except in the case of CA.  

The only other incumbent thrown out of office was the governor of Mississippi, and he was a Dem running in a very GOP state that is only trending more GOP....so his loss only confirms the growing GOP trend MS, not anti-incumbency.

The seats were open in Kent and LA, no incumbent was on the ballot.