The desire for change during the 2008 presidential campaign is also evident in U.S. House and Senate races, as Democrats are on track to increase their control of Congress. Polls indicate that voters prefer Democrats on various issues, such as the Iraq war, the economy, and energy, and believe the country is heading in the wrong direction as President George W. Bush's term comes to an end. However, Democrats are also facing challenges, with only one in five Americans approving of the closely divided Congress that Democrats took control of in 2007. Despite their minority status, Republicans have successfully blocked Democrats on several issues, including attempts to withdraw from Iraq. Stu Rothenberg from the nonpartisan Rothenberg Political Report, known for monitoring presidential and congressional elections, stated that the public desires change. When voters consider who is in power, they typically focus on the president rather than Congress. Rothenberg added that if voters are upset, they typically blame the president's party. Senator Barack Obama of Illinois gained momentum in the Democratic presidential race by emphasizing the themes of "hope and change" in Washington, which is frequently hindered by political conflicts. Obama's popular "change" message has been adopted by his Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton, as well as by the Republican presidential nominee, John McCain. In addition to choosing a new president in November, voters will also elect one-third of the Senate and the entire House of Representatives. Currently, Democrats hold a slight majority in the Senate and the House, and are expected to gain more seats in both chambers. There is a possibility of reaching the needed 60 seats in the Senate to overcome Republican filibusters. The most recent time either political party had a Senate majority that could not be filibustered was in 1977-78 when the Democrats were in power. Jennifer Duffy from the nonpartisan Cook Political Report stated that if everything goes well, Democrats could potentially reach 60 Senate seats, but she also mentioned that the likelihood of this happening is low due to the difficult political environment. There are 23 Senate seats up for election, with five currently held by retiring Republicans and several others facing strong opponents. All 12 Senate Democrats who are up for re-election are expected to win, according to Senator John Ensign from Nevada, who is the chairman of the Senate Republican campaign committee. Ensign mentioned that holding onto 47 or 48 seats would be considered a very good outcome for Republicans, down from the current 49. However, he expressed confidence that Democrats would not reach 60 seats. On the other hand, Senator Charles Schumer from New York, who is the chairman of the Senate Democratic campaign committee, stated that things are moving favorably for the Democrats. Despite Democrats outperforming Republicans in fundraising, having fewer congressional retirements, and experiencing more success in recruiting challengers, they are worried about potential negative effects from the intense Obama-Clinton rivalry during the Democratic nominating primaries for the presidential nomination. Rep. Chris Van Hollen expressed concerns about lasting wounds from the primary battles that could impact the November elections. While he doesn't believe it would result in Democrats losing control of Congress, it could hinder their efforts to gain more seats. Andrew Kohut of the Pew Research Center suggested that a strong performance by McCain in the presidential race could help Republicans prevent losses in Congress. Kohut emphasized the importance of the top of the ticket, noting that McCain performs well with independents who often determine election outcomes. Democrats aim to counter any notion that McCain and other Republicans represent change by linking them to Bush, who has low approval ratings. Van Hollen mentioned that even though Bush is not running this year, his influence is still felt in the elections. House Republicans must justify seven years of supporting failed Iraq and economic policies. Rep. Tom Cole, chairman of the House Republican campaign committee, dismissed concerns and believes their prospects are underestimated. Cole pointed out that Democrats gained control of Congress in 2006 by blaming Republicans for various issues such as the Iraq war and economic struggles. Now that Democrats control both the House and Senate, they also bear responsibility for the negative perception of Washington.