GOP and Democrats both predict victories

Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele on Sunday predicted an “unprecedented wave” of GOP victories while Democrats saw signs of voters awakening as both sides made arguments in the final week before the midterm election.

Democrats said voters were souring on the big money being funneled to outside groups supporting Republican candidates, including one organization co-founded by Karl Rove, a former advisor to President George W. Bush. Rove defended the spending Sunday as part of a campaign finance system in need of reform.

“I would like to have a different system, but we have the system we have,” Rove said on CBS’ “Face the Nation.” Some outside groups are structured in a way that requires donor disclosure. “It is what it is, and the choice is whether you fight the battle with one arm tied behind your back or not,” he said.

Democrats are in a fight to ensure turnout in battleground states. Dozens of congressional districts are considered too close to call. President Obama is scheduled to make a final campaign blitz next weekend, hitting four states in two days.

Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), chairman of the party’s House congressional campaign committee, said voters were beginning to connect the dots between outside donors and GOP races.

“These big interests are fighting hard to get back in power, and I think the American people are waking up to that fact,” he said. “That’s why I think you’re seeing a closing of the political energy gap that’s been talked about.”

Republicans are depending on the enthusiasm of this year’s highly motivated conservative voters, many of them associated with the “tea party” movement, to push turnout in their favor.

“You’re going to see a wave, an unprecedented wave, on election day,” Steele said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”

Many political observers expect Republicans to pick up the 39 seats needed to wrest control of the House from Democrats. A GOP takeover of the Senate would be tougher, and neither Steele nor Rove was prepared to say that Republicans would win the 10 seats necessary.

Control of the Senate is likely to hinge on a few battleground states, including Nevada, where Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid hit the campaign trail Sunday in a dead-heat race.

Many states already have early voting underway, and both parties are pressing for an advantage among those casting their ballots before Nov. 2.

Obama is expected to deliver several speeches this week before embarking on his four-state push over the weekend. Obama and Vice President Joe Biden will headline a rally Oct. 31 at Cleveland State University.

Obama drew tens of thousands of voters to rallies last week, somewhat reminiscent of the movement that propelled him into office two years ago. Steele mocked Obama’s campaigning as ineffectual.

“It actually sounded more like a pity party than a rally,” Steele said.

Steele has faced criticism as RNC chairman, and he declined to say whether he would seek reelection. “I’m not irrelevant,” he said in response to his critics.

The president this week also is scheduled to tape an interview with Jon Stewart of “The Daily Show.”

Stewart and fellow comedian Stephen Colbert are headlining a rally Saturday on the National Mall in Washington as an alternative to the conservative-themed events held by tea party groups and commentator Glenn Beck.

lisa.mascaro@latimes.com