WEAK KNEES KEEP SHAKING.... In Tuesday's congressional races, voters sent two more House Democrats to Congress, expanding an already-large Democratic majority on the Hill.  In 2008, the electorate made a House Democratic majority bigger, and in 2009, Dems went five for five in special elections, making that majority bigger still.

Bachmann calls for ‘scare’ tactics  —  In a conference call Wednesday night with bloggers and activists for the advocacy group Americans for Prosperity, Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) called on protesters to “scare” members of Congress into killing the proposed health care reform bill.

CBO: Republican health plan would reduce premiums, cut deficit  —  The Congressional Budget Office Wednesday night released its cost analysis of the Republican health care plan and found that it would reduce health care premiums and cut the deficit by $68 billion over ten years.

Huckabee, Romney, Palin See Most Republican Support for '12  —  Huckabee, Romney viewed as most qualified of possible Republican presidential candidates  —  PRINCETON, NJ — Looking ahead to the 2012 presidential election, 71% of Republicans say they would seriously consider voting for Mike Huckabee.

Tuesday's Suburban Vote Swing  —  Even a five-point shift would mean big Democratic losses in 2010.  —  Printer  —  Friendly  —  Tuesday's elections should put a scare into red state Democrats—and a few blue state ones, too.  —  Barack Obama was said to have redrawn the electoral map …

Fresh on the heels of repeal in Maine, N.H. may reconsider gay marriage  —  DOVER — Now that gay marriage has been defeated in Maine, attention again shifts to New Hampshire, where lawmakers say momentum from Tuesday's vote may fuel legislation to repeal the state's law and give voters a say.

Administration missteps hamper Mideast efforts  —  President Obama came into office insisting that his administration would press hard and fast to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.  But after nine months, analysts and diplomats say, the administration's efforts have faltered in part because of its own missteps.

North and South in the Republican Party  —  One of my commenters has some thoughts on NY-23: … This resonates with me, because my mom's from Western New York.  I remember once noting that until I was in college, I hadn't known any Republicans, to which my mother blinked, and replied “You knew your grandparents.”

The Vote for Mayor, Block by Block  —  Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg won re-election Tuesday, but voters were less enthusiastic about him than the last time he ran in 2005.  The mayor did well in high-income white areas of Manhattan and Queens, and also in election districts dominated by immigrants, like Flushing and Brighton Beach.

NYC Population By Borough  —  I forget what I was trying to prove when I started working on this chart yesterday morning, but late yesterday afternoon I realized there was a 90 percent finished visual display of data on my computer so I figured I might as well finish it:

Sen. Snowe: Tuesday's results ‘certainly gives pause on how you approach’ health reform - Yanks are world champs  —  BIRTHDAYS: Autumn Hanna VandeHei, the hottest and smartest wife-mother-friend (boot tip: Jimmy) ... Sloan Rappaport big 4-0 birthday (hat tip: Margaret and Freddie) …

Major National Ad Buy Ties Vaccine Shortage to Health Care, Gitmo  —  A major national ad campaign is set to launch tomorrow tying the Obama administration's failure to provide flu vaccine on time and in quantity to fears of a government takeover of healthcare.

Lindsey Graham warns GOP against going too far right  —  The morning after Republicans lost an upstate New York House seat, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) warned that conservative activists will bring destruction to the Republican Party if they drive out moderate candidates across the country.

Michelle Obama to star with Nigella Lawson as she becomes first presidential wife to appear on a reality show  —  Michelle Obama is to be the first presidential wife to appear on a reality TV series.  —  The First Lady will make a guest appearance on ‘Iron Chef America’ which features British cook Nigella Lawson as a judge.