Where are We in History? 2010 in the Longest Run.

One classic way to get perspective on the most recent election is to drop it into the full sweep of congressional elections across all of American history. A focus on partisan control of the House, on partisan control of national government, and on the difference in these between mid-term and presidential years provides a way to isolate elements of distinction for the mid-term of 2010. While this hardly provides a means of foretelling the future, it does suggest some key structural elements that help distinguish the most recent elections from even their immediate predecessors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]