"People tend to vote straight down the line on design," said one agent.

Both parties believe that the people hardest to find tend to vote Democratic.

"People here tend to vote for the person, not the party," he said.

"People will tend to vote with their feet," he said.

Union workers tend to vote, and usually for Democrats who are responsive to their issues.

Professionals, mostly these knowledge workers, tend to vote for Democrats.

On the other hand, she said, "women who do not work and are married tend to vote just like men."

That is certainly not true if you limit the black public to those who tend to vote, an older group.

"If the economy is not doing well, they tend to vote for the opposition party."

Republicans have a 55-to-44 majority, though one independent member of the body tends to vote with the Democrats.