"Happy Days" Ahead for the Dems?

Recent polls suggest today will be a big day for the Democratic Party, who seem poised to win not only the presidency, but also retain control of both houses of Congress. The Democrats even have a chance of reaching a filibuster-proof 60 seats in the Senate.

Even the Republican Party has acknowledged potential gains for the Democratic Party, releasing several campaign advertisements urging people to vote against Democratic candidates, if only to prevent strong, single-party control.

While it may seem like happy days are here again for the Democrats, several scholars said they believe things may not be as advantageous as they seem for the presumptive majority.

“[The new administration] is going to have to hit the ground running,” said Candice Nelson, chair of the American University School of Public Affairs.

Nelson said that given many of the issues facing the nation, a President Obama wouldn’t likely have the traditional “honeymoon” enjoyed by most incoming presidents.

Nelson also stressed that even though the Democratic Party looks to have a strong majority, they would have to address several other issues, such as the struggling economy, before they could enact any of their own plans.

“Their agenda is set,” said Nelson.

Dotty Lynch, CBSNews.com's Political Points columnist and a communications professor at the American University, agrees that current events may also limit a President Obama, and his ability to enact his campaign promises.

“Obama might have a problem with some of [his] more expensive promises, like health care, given the amount of money spent on the bailout,” said Lynch.

Aside from being forced to address recent events, others argue that the Democrats have to be careful not to overreach on those plans they do put into place, both practically and ideologically.

“The Democrats have a big chance to do a lot," said Richard Benedetto, a veteran news reporter with 40 years of experience covering politics and an adjunct professor at American University School of Public Affairs. "[But] if they do (overreach) … the public has a way of making things swing back.”

Benedetto pointed to President Bill Clinton’s first term as an example. Benedetto said Clinton’s decision to lead with several ambitious liberal proposals contributed to the Republicans gaining control of both houses of Congress in the next midterm election, after decades under Democratic control.

“This country is still a right-of-center country. The overall electorate is not rushing to Obama because they like his liberal policies … they just haven’t been happy with the past Republican leadership,” said Benedetto.

Lynch pointed out that fear of their majority being too powerful is a good problem for the Democrats to have.

"They would rather have that problem, than the problem of [trying to build] a majority,” Lynch said.

Republicans Not Out of the Game

Benedetto says that given the large Democratic majority in the House, the Senate remains Republican's best chance to keep a hand on the tiller.

“The Republicans are going to have to make their stand in the Senate,” Benedetto said.

If the Democrats reach sixty seats, Republican leadership would have to rely on “maverick” Democrats to cross party lines and side with them on certain issues, or else wait for the tide to shift, he said.

A chance to start again may be just what Republicans need, Nelson said.

“A lot of Republicans are saying, ‘maybe it’s a good thing we went down in flames so we can start fresh.,'” she said.

When looking at the future of the party, Benedetto predicted that, like John Kerry, John McCain would be likely to move to the background and/or potentially retire at the end of his term, clearing the way for a younger generation of leadership to take the reins.

One of this new generation may very well be McCain’s running mate Sarah Palin, whom Benedetto predicts will be busy.

“I think she’s got a future in the Republican Party, no question about it. She’ll be a big player in the 2010 election, in terms of going out and raising money for Republican candidates,” said Benedetto.