Tedisco holding on to a 4 point lead in New York

Him winning this seat would be a good sign for Republicans in 2010. By then I think Obama's popularity won't be as high and we might see the Republicans cut into the dominance the Democrats have in Washington right now. I know Jim Tedisco isn't from Mass but we still need as many Republicans elected to Congress as possible. Any kind of support you could give him I'm sure would go a long way to getting him elected.

The results are likely to have little effect on Capitol Hill, where Democrats enjoy a 76-seat advantage in the 435-member House of Representatives.

But for Republicans, a win would help turn the page on the painful 2008 election and offer them a glimmer of hope at a time when Democratic President Barack Obama enjoys high approval ratings.

"It would be an indicator that the tide has turned, (that) when we have an equal playing field we can win on an equal playing field," said Republican strategist Kevin Madden.

The race features Republican State Assembly Minority Leader Jim Tedisco against Democratic nominated venture capitalist Scott Murphy, who has no background in politics.

A Siena College poll released last Thursday showed Tedisco leading by 4 percentage points, nearly within the poll's margin of error, down from a 12-point lead at the end of February.

A win by Tedisco would help Republicans prove they can win again in the Northeast. The three New York seats currently held by New York Republicans are the only House seats that the party controls in all of New England. A decade ago, Republicans had 17 seats in the region.