PHOENIX -- Speaking before a flock of Red bloods in the GOP-friendly state of Arizona, National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) president and CEO Hank Armour was stoic as he shared his predictions for today's midterm elections that will decide the balance of power in the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate.
With Republicans currently holding both Houses by modest margins, Armour offered his frank assessment. We think Democrats will take the House It could be 225 to 230 seats. The Senate, he continued without pause, will be far more difficult [image-nocss] for the Democrats to take.
Armour was placing his bets Sunday evening in front of hundreds of suppliers and retailers at the 2006 Outlook Leadership Conference put together by Leadership Network Corp. in partnership with CSP Information Group.
Here's the landscape for today's elections: Democrats must score a net gain of 15 seats to seize control of the House and six seats in the Senate. With 77 seats in play in the House, and more than 60 of those being held by Republicans, Armour said even the most optimistic in the GOP leadership expect the Democrats to pick up no less than 13 seats, creating a virtual deadlock. As for the Senate, while Democrats are expected to pick up several seats, the Blue party must win tossup states of Virginia, Montana and Missourilongshot prospects to capture the trifecta.
Regardless of today's outcome, what is virtually certain is that neither party will hold dominating majorities, prompting Armour to conclude, This will be a deadlock session. That, he said, means either nothing could happen or a bunch could happen.
Armour then proceeded to offer a picture of a Democratic-controlled Congress. From his point of view, Democratic control offered pluses and minuses for the convenience and retail petroleum channel.
On the negative, he predicted that a Democratic-led House would look to extend federal oversight of tobacco, would crack down on perceived price gouging and pursue a higher minimum wage.
On the flipside, Democrats seem more supportive to back c-store concerns over excessive credit-card fees and to increase LUST funding to pursue inspections of government-owned underground tanks.
So, it's a mixed bag, he said. Some things we'd be better off. Some things, we wouldn't be.
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