What is at stake in these next few days in the US isn't the war in Iraq, it's control of the House and Senate. The Republicans are bound to lose House and Senate seats and next week's election is likely to give the Democrats the edge. Yet the elections are also about Iraq. As the American body count nears 3000, and the situation especially in and around Baghdad worsens, the poll ratings for Bush and for the Republicans have fallen. Iraq is a voter loser whilst the Republican blend of right-wing politics with extremist religion - no longer looks to be America's future.

Peter Brookes

It's different in Australia Even though Bush has dumped his "stay the course" language and redefined his goal in Iraq from democracy to stability, Howard and Downer are continuing to talk to the old script they learned in 2003. They speak the 'good news in Iraq' language as a brutal civil war rages. Even the Washington neo-cons are singing a different tune.

This week could mark the end of their long political wilderness and the beginning of blue-state America's fightback. Iraq now dominates the American public psyche - more specifically, how to get out as quickly as possible. The Republicans continue to play the old cards: gay marriage and abortion and painting Democrats as tax-and-spend liberals. Lets hope the Republican base is so disgusted with Bush and the ccorrupt moral conservative leaders that they stay home.

Will this election mark the beginning of the end of the Republican Party ascendancy in American politics?