GOP targets states’ races: Redrawn districts could pay off in ’12

The Boston Globe reports:

The Republican Party, already hoping to take control of Congress, is undertaking an aggressive effort to seize control of governorships and state houses across the country, which in turn could help the GOP redraw congressional districts and exert more power over the next presidential campaign.

Democrats currently hold an edge in governorships and state legislatures, just as they control the US Senate and House. Midterm elections often provide a boost to the out-of-power party. But some analysts say that Republicans may get an extra boost this year due to a combination of grass-roots activism, continuing despair over the economy, and potential low turnout among dispirited Democrats.