Democrats are in a good position to increase their Senate majority in the upcoming elections, regardless of who becomes the next President. Due to Republican retirements, scandals, and the Iraq war, Democrats have a chance to gain up to nine seats in the 100-member Senate in the November 2008 elections. This would give them a crucial 60-seat majority, which is needed to overcome Republican procedural obstacles that have hindered their efforts to change President Bush's Iraq war policy. The last time Democrats had a significant majority in the Senate was during the 1977-1979 congressional session when they held 61 seats. Jennifer Duffy, who monitors Senate races for the Cook Political Report, believes that achieving a 60-seat majority is a realistic possibility. She mentioned that in order for things to go their way, everything would need to fall into place. At the moment, it is still too soon to predict. With the elections approaching in a year, a lot of Republicans are trying to distance themselves from Bush, who has a low approval rating of about 33 percent in recent surveys. Despite this, they are still closely associated with his unpopular position on the Iraq war, which has been ongoing for five years. Many are worried about what lies ahead, especially since Senate Democrats have raised more campaign funds than Republicans. A senior Senate Republican aide foresees a loss of seats due to the unfavorable political climate. Currently, Republicans hold 22 of the 34 Senate seats up for re-election next year, compared to Democrats' 12. While all Democratic senators plan to seek re-election and are likely to win, five Republican incumbents have already decided not to run for another term in 2008. Senators Pete Domenici of New Mexico and Larry Craig of Idaho recently announced that they would not seek re-election, joining other Republicans John Warner, Chuck Hagel, and Wayne Allard. Domenici cited declining health as his reason, while Craig mentioned his controversial conviction in an airport sex-sting operation. The Craig scandal has caused embarrassment for Republicans, who often emphasize "conservative family values." Additionally, the party is facing challenges from a political corruption investigation in Alaska involving Senator Ted Stevens, the longest-serving Republican senator in history. Stevens, who has been a member of the Senate since 1968, has denied any misconduct. However, the investigation has made the 83-year-old Alaskan susceptible in the upcoming 2008 elections. The Iraq war played a role in the Democrats gaining control of Congress last year and could potentially help them increase their majorities in both the House of Representatives and the Senate next year. Despite this, Republicans are encouraged by polls showing that only about a quarter of Americans approve of the Democratic-led Congress, which has been hindered by partisan disagreements. Rebecca Fisher, a spokesperson for the Democratic Senate campaign committee, stated that Democrats have not yet shown they can effectively lead the country, and voters are noticing. She believes Republicans will regain control of the Senate. Despite this, Democrats remain confident as surveys show Americans still prefer them over Republicans in Congress. However, many are hesitant to predict their success in the upcoming elections, fearing that high expectations could energize the Republican base. Duffy from the Cook Political Report mentioned that Democrats are trying to lower expectations for Senate gains. Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid, who previously expressed doubt about his party's chances in the Senate, now prioritizes maintaining a majority without making predictions for 2008. Similarly, Sen. Charles Schumer is optimistic about the Democrats' chances without specifying potential seat gains.