Predictions of 90 percent voter turnout and an Obama landslide have local Republicans fearing that some good local legislators will be swept out of office by new Obama voters who are not as educated on local races and by default vote for the "Democratic" column down the line.
While no one believes that someone as strong and with such bipartisan support as District 30 Sen. Andrew Roraback could fall victim to such a trend, it could very well doom the candidacy of state Rep. Kevin Witkos, who faces a tough challenge from Democrat Art House for the 8th District Senate seat.
State Rep. Anne Ruwet, who won by 1 vote six years ago, less than 300 votes four years ago and less than 100 votes two years ago, could also be at risk. Both the state Democratic Party and the Working Families Party, as well as special interest groups on the left, have poured resources into the campaign of her opponent, Michelle Cook, and into attack mailings criticizing Ruwet's votes on a variety of issues.