WASHINGTON – Democratic leaders today said they were optimistic about their prospects for holding the U.S. House seat of retiring Congresswoman Darlene Hooley and of winning Republican Gordon Smith’s U.S. Senate seat.

Chuck Schumer, the chair of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, suggested that Smith, who is expected to face off in the November general election against House Speaker Jeff Merkley or activist Steve Novick, was failing to distance himself from President Bush.

“Republicans who have changed their tune ... think they are getting stronger, but they are getting sicker,” said Schumer.