Democrats have the opportunity to strengthen their Senate majority in the upcoming elections, potentially gaining as many as nine seats. This would give them significant influence regardless of who becomes the next President. The 60-seat majority would allow Democrats to overcome Republican obstacles and push for changes in policies, such as the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq. The last time Democrats had a similar majority was in the late 1970s. According to Jennifer Duffy of the Cook Political Report, reaching the 60-seat threshold is a realistic possibility. She stated that for things to go in their favor, everything would need to go smoothly. At the moment, it is too soon to make any definite statements. With the elections looming a year ahead, numerous Republicans are trying to distance themselves from Bush, whose approval rating is currently at around 33 percent. Despite this, they are still connected to his unpopular position on the ongoing Iraq war, which is now in its fifth year. Many are worried about what lies ahead, especially since Senate Democrats have raised more funds for their campaign than Republicans. A senior Senate Republican aide anticipates that their party will lose seats in the upcoming election due to the unfavorable political climate. Currently, Republicans hold 22 out of the 34 Senate seats up for re-election next year, while Democrats have 12. All Democratic incumbents plan to seek re-election and are expected to win easily. On the other hand, five Republican incumbents have already decided not to run for another six-year term in 2008. Last week, Republican Senators Pete Domenici and Larry Craig announced they would not seek re-election, joining John Warner, Chuck Hagel, and Wayne Allard. Domenici cited declining health as his reason, while Craig pointed to his controversial conviction in an airport sex-sting operation. The scandal has embarrassed Republicans, who promote themselves as champions of "conservative family values." Additionally, the party has been rocked by a corruption investigation in Alaska involving Senator Ted Stevens, the longest-serving Republican senator. 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 Democrats gained control of Congress last year partly due to the Iraq war, and they may be able to increase their majorities in both the House of Representatives and the Senate next year. Despite this, Republicans are hopeful as polls indicate that only a quarter of Americans approve of the Democratic-led Congress, which has been hindered by political disagreements. Rebecca Fisher, a spokeswoman for the party's Senate campaign committee, stated that Democrats have not yet shown their ability to effectively lead the country, and voters are noticing. She believes that Republicans will regain control of the Senate. Despite this, Democrats argue that surveys show Americans still prefer them over Republicans in Congress. However, many are hesitant to predict their success in the upcoming elections. Duffy from the Cook Political Report mentioned that Democrats are trying to lower expectations of significant Senate gains because they are concerned it could energize the Republican base. In order to emphasize the point, Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid, who previously expressed doubt about his party's chances in past elections, is now focused on maintaining a majority without making any predictions for the upcoming election. Similarly, Sen. Charles Schumer of New York, who leads the Senate Democratic campaign committee, is optimistic about their chances but chooses not to speculate on the number of seats they may gain.