resistance, they ran it throw anyway. now faced with a mid-term rout they cover themselveses with the notion about economy. >> bret: if as predicted by the independent analysts going in the election, republicans have a big night, eight nights from now, is that a vote of confidence for republicans? do they have a mandate? >> i'd say no. a provisional grant of power to republicans conferred mostly as a protest vote against the democrats in congress and the democratic president in the white house. republicans are still carrying the image that they had that got them in trouble in the 2006 elections. they have a lot to prove to the voters. they'll have an opportunity to at least start to do that. but that's all they'll get this time. not a big pro-republican vote. >> bret: interesting seven days ahead. >> you bet. >> bret: thanks. >> thanks. >> bret: sales of previously owned homes grew 10% after dismal summer but remain short