Democratic House candidates project optimism

The past two cycles, even at Democratic conventions, there wasn't much serious talk of a Democratic majority in the House. This convention was different. When the current Democratic members of the Texas House of Representatives, several of them -- even the ones who aren't always the hard-core partisans -- were talking of retaking the House. Several current representatives asked the crowd to give us "just five more colleagues" (the number needed for a majority.) Many Austin observers are still skeptical that a numeric majority will happen. But after 2006, the possibility is taken seriously. Republican activists can't take this election for granted, because Democrats are hungry and confident.