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Ensign Predicts Dire Consequences as Schumer Seeks More Cash

National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman John Ensign (Nev.) said in an interview Monday morning on Fox News that he did not think Senate Democrats would hit the filibuster-proof 60-seat mark in Tuesday’s elections, but predicted that Democrats would be able to move the country to the left even if they don’t reach 60 seats.

“If they get 57, 58 votes, they can pick off a few Republicans and move this country radically to the left,” Ensign said.

Ensign said the country can expect higher taxes and rules making it easier for unions to organize if Democrats seize control of all the levers of the federal government — which is appearing increasingly likely as Sen. Barack Obama (Ill.) holds a steady lead in presidential-election polls and Democrats are projected to make big gains in the House and Senate.

Meanwhile, Ensign’s counterpart, Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee Chairman Charles Schumer (N.Y.) was shaking the money tree on the eve of Election Day, saying in an e-mail solicitation to potential donors that “internal polling shows the battleground Senate races as close as they could be.” He mentioned Georgia, Kentucky, Minnesota, Mississippi and North Carolina as being particularly promising.

“In these decisive final hours, all of our goals — the White House, a filibuster-proof Senate majority, and a renewed America — are within our grasp,” Schumer wrote.

Schumer said donations that the committee receives as late as 9 p.m. Monday can still be put to use on election Day. He also said that Democratic Senators have agreed to triple every donation that the DSCC receives on Monday.

“The history we will make tomorrow is entirely up to you,” Schumer wrote. “These are the last possible hours where you can make a difference on Election Day.

“Your $5 could help put one more tank of gas in a GOTV van in Minnesota. It could print one more stack of literature for a key precinct in Georgia or make those last few phone calls in Mississippi.

“Please, don’t hold anything back.”

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