This is IN THE NEWSin VOA Special English.Americans will votein elections on Tuesday.They will elect all four hundredthirty-five membersof the United StatesHouse of Representatives,thirty-seven senators,many state governorsand local officials.Political experts sayall signs point to major gainsby Republican Party candidatesin both houses of Congress.The Republicans are hopingto win back control of Congress,which they lost to the Democratsin two thousand six.President Obama does notstand for re-electionuntil two thousand twelve.But many of his programsmay be in troubleif Republicans retakecontrol of the Houseand make gains in the Senate.President Obama has been urgingDemocrats across the countryto support their party'scandidates in the election.He also has defended the recordof his administration'sfirst two years in office.Former President Bill Clintongave a similar messagewhen he made campaign appearancesfor Democratic Party candidates.He said he believes President Obamaand Congress have done a better jobthan most people think they have done.But Republican leaders saythe political energyis on their side this year.Many political experts predict thatRepublicans will win back controlof the House of Representatives,but will fall just short of winninga majority in the Senate.A new study found that supportfor President Obama and the Democratshas decreased among someimportant voting groups.These groups helped themwin two years ago.They include women, independentvoters and less wealthy Americans.CBS News and The New York Times newspaperreported their findings.Experts say the public's poor opinionof the national economy,including high unemployment,is the main problemfacing Democrats this year.Democrats have been seekingto increase voters' attentionon individual Republican candidatesthey say are too extreme.Some of these candidatesare supported by the conservativeand libertarian Tea Party movement.This year, money in the formof campaign contributionsappears to be having moreof an influence than ever before.A Supreme Court ruling openedthe way for more campaign spendingon television advertisingby businesses and labor unions.Many television advertisementsare paid for by groups not connectedwith political parties andby wealthy donors who do not haveto identify themselves.Many of these television commercialsattack a candidate's opponent.The election campaigns have beensome of the costliest ever.For example, Republican Meg Whitmanhas spent more than one hundred fortymillion dollars of her own moneyon her campaign.She is seeking to becomegovernor of Californiaagainst the state'sformer governor, Jerry Brown.Independent groups estimate thatcandidates, partiesand independent groupswill spend as much as four billiondollars by the timethe voting has ended.And that's IN THE NEWSin VOA Special English.Go to 51voa.com and click onthe Classroom to exploreour new English teaching activities.