...a dramatic political battle is being waged over control of state governments, where policymakers make decisions on health care, education and transportation issues that affect the daily lives of Americans. Voters will decide 80 percent of the 7,382 total state legislative seats in the United States on November 4th as well as 11 state governors.
"Because there are only a small number of governor races in 2008, legislatures are the main battlefield for control of the states," said Tim Storey, an elections expert with the National Conference of State Legislatures.
According to the NCSL analysis, "The [Tennessee] Senate has equal numbers of Republicans and Democrats [Ed. note: Plus one NASCAR party member], but Republicans control the body through a coalition majority and would like to take outright control by picking up a seat or two."
The analysis says the winner of the presidential election historically produces a coattail effect, especially in presidential battleground states, noting that "On average, the party that wins the White House adds more than 125 legislative seats to its column."
