Overall Democrats appear to have a modest mandate as well.
Congressionally, the numbers are a good match for 2004: Democrats have 54% of the House and at least 56% of the Senate this time around, while Republicans had 54% and 56% in 2004. Of course, Obama's victory was more convincing than that of Bush in 2004.
Overall, the Democrats position is closest to that in 1992. Then they had 59% of the House and 57% of the Senate, along with a popular and electoral victory quite comparable to this years.
Was 1992 a mandate?
I certainly think the Democrats thought so, and the electorate spanked them badly for what they did with it in 1994. Obviously, the Republicans got it even worse in 2006.
I think the message here is that the Democrats have 2 years to make people feel better. Given the typical timing of recessions, and the fact that the economy has already been faltering for a while, I'd say they have a good chance of doing so.
