The 2008 presidential campaign is not the only place where the call for change is being heard, as Democrats are expected to gain more control in Congress. Polls indicate that voters prefer Democrats over Republicans on various issues such as the Iraq war, the economy, and energy, and believe that the country is headed in the wrong direction as President George W. Bush's term comes to an end. However, Democrats also face challenges as surveys show that only one in five Americans approves of the divided Congress, where Democrats took over from Republicans in 2007. Despite their minority status, Republicans have been able to block Democrats on certain issues, including efforts to withdraw from Iraq. Stu Rothenberg from the nonpartisan Rothenberg Political Report, which monitors presidential and congressional elections, stated that the public desires change. He emphasized that when voters consider who is in control, they focus on the president rather than Congress, and if they are dissatisfied, they tend to blame the president's party. Senator Barack Obama of Illinois gained popularity in the Democratic presidential race by promoting the ideas of "hope and change" in Washington, despite facing challenges from political conflicts. Obama's popular "change" slogan has been adopted by his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton and Republican nominee John McCain. In addition to choosing a new president in November, voters will also be electing members of the Senate and House of Representatives. Democrats currently hold a slight majority in both chambers and are expected to gain more seats, possibly even reaching the 60 seats needed in the Senate to overcome Republican filibusters. The most recent instance of either party having a Senate that was able to avoid filibusters was in 1977-78 with the Democrats in control. According to Jennifer Duffy of the nonpartisan Cook Political Report, there is a possibility that Democrats could reach 60 seats if everything goes well, but the likelihood of this happening is low. The upcoming election has 23 Senate seats held by Republicans, with five of them retiring and others facing difficult races. All 12 Senate Democrats who are up for re-election are expected to win, according to Senator John Ensign of Nevada, who is the chairman of the Senate Republican campaign committee. Ensign mentioned that a successful outcome for Republicans would be to maintain 47 or 48 seats, down from the current 49. He also stated that he doesn't see a scenario where Democrats reach 60 seats. On the other hand, Senator Charles Schumer of New York, who leads the Senate Democratic campaign committee, expressed optimism about the direction of the election. The Democrats are worried that the bitter battle between Obama and Clinton in the Democratic primaries could create lasting wounds that may affect their chances in the general election. Despite raising more money and facing fewer congressional retirements, they are concerned about the potential fallout. Rep. Chris Van Hollen expressed his concerns about the impact on the party's efforts to gain seats in Congress. Andrew Kohut of the Pew Research Center suggested that a strong showing by McCain in the presidential race could help Republicans prevent further losses in Congress. Kohut emphasized the importance of the top of the ticket, noting McCain's appeal to independents who often determine election outcomes. Democrats aim to counter claims of Republicans as "agents of change" by linking them to Bush, whose low approval ratings continue to impact elections according to Van Hollen. House Republicans need to provide explanations for their support of the unsuccessful Iraq and economic policies over the past seven years. Rep. Tom Cole, the chairman of the House Republican campaign committee from Oklahoma, downplayed concerns about this issue, stating that he believes their prospects have been underestimated. Cole pointed out that Democrats gained control of Congress in 2006 by blaming Republicans for various problems, such as the unpopular Iraq war, a weak economy, and high gas prices. He also mentioned that now that Democrats control both the House and Senate, they are also responsible for the negative perceptions of Washington.