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These are difficult days for Republicans.

A recent anti-GOP column by Tribune Deputy Editor Larry Spohn and a subsequent letter published in response, by an offended Republican who read Spohn's column while in town for the balloon fiesta, lucidly illustrate the deep anger felt by Democrats and the defensive position Republicans constantly find themselves in just days before the election.

The Republican candidate for state treasurer, Demesia Padilla, has ruined any chance of defeating Democrat opponent James Lewis because of her inability to understand that there is a difference between sending a message to the voters and creating an image in their minds.

Padilla is now on the defense against racism charges after running an ad portraying Lewis as a puppet of Gov. Bill Richardson. The message wasn't the problem. It was the tasteless and irresponsible imagery in her ad that people found highly offensive. (Disclosure: I have had a James Lewis yard sign up for a month.)

On the national front, yet another congressional Republican, Curt Weldon of Pennsylvania, is in trouble. A new report by the Associated Press says the FBI is investigating Weldon for using his influence to secure a $1 million lobbying contract for his daughter.

These are also difficult days for Albuquerque voters in Republican Rep. Heather Wilson's district. They will decide if Wilson stays or goes in favor of Democratic challenger Patricia Madrid.

There is a lot riding on their decision. Real Clear Politics has published a list of the top Republican House seats ranked, in the order of their likelihood to switch. Democrats need 15 seats to take control of the House in Congress. Wilson's seat is ranked No. 15.

The consensus in Washington, D.C., is that it's not a question of whether the Republicans are going to take a bath, it's how deep the water is going to be. Some analysts believe the Republicans could lose up to 26 seats. I personally believe the math gets harder after 12 or 13.

Tribune Editor Phil Casaus has already predicted in a commentary that Wilson will win. But that was before the news broke of the scandal involving e-mails to congressional pages by Rep. Mark Foley, a Florida Republican. It was also before the AP report that Weldon is being investigated. Real Clear Politics ranked Weldon's race as the 11th most likely seat to switch before the report. It is undoubtedly more likely to change if the AP report is accurate.

I've talked to several Democrats who say they like Wilson a lot and have voted for her in the past, but the idea of having the Democrats control Congress is more appealing to them than the magnitude, character or qualities of either Wilson or Madrid.

Do you want Wilson still to represent you in the majority party? Or do you want the Democrats to control Congress? Think carefully. You may be deciding that question for the rest of us.