WHERE NO REPUBLICAN DARED TO GO BEFORE – AT 8:15 A.M. ET:   Republicans are not generally seen as bold.  This year they've become bold.  From The New York Times:

ST. CLAIRSVILLE, Ohio — Republicans are expanding the battle for the House into districts that Democrats had once considered relatively safe, while Democrats began a strategy of triage on Monday to fortify candidates who they believe stand the best chance of survival.

Among Democrats, triage will now be called "allocating resources to insure the growth of cultural diversity."

As Republicans made new investments in at least 10 races across the country, including two Democratic seats here in eastern Ohio, Democratic leaders took steps to pull out of some races entirely or significantly cut their financial commitment in several districts that the party won in the last two election cycles.

Representatives Steve Driehaus of Ohio, Suzanne M. Kosmas of Florida and Kathy Dahlkemper of Pennsylvania were among the Democrats who learned that they would no longer receive the same infusion of television advertising that party leaders had promised. Party strategists conceded that these races and several others were slipping out of reach.

With three weeks remaining to save its majority, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has increased its spending on two New York races, along with at-risk seats in Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky and Massachusetts, setting up a map of competitive districts that is starkly different from when the campaign began.

When Dems have to increase their spending in New York and Massachusetts, you know they're in trouble.  But in New York, weak Republican gubernatorial and senatorial candidates are turning two competitive races into giveaways.  That's not good, but the national picture is promising.

October 12, 2010