WASHINGTON – Democratic leaders today said they were optimistic about their prospects for holding the U.S. House seat of retiring Congresswoman Darlene Hooley and of winning Republican Gordon Smith’s U.S. Senate seat.

Chuck Schumer, the chair of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, suggested that Smith, who is expected to face off in the November general election against House Speaker Jeff Merkley or activist Steve Novick, was failing to distance himself from President Bush.

“Republicans who have changed their tune ... think they are getting stronger, but they are getting sicker,” said Schumer.

Appearing with Schumer was Chris Van Hollen, the chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, who said that Democratic state Senator Kurt Schrader would win the District 5 seat Hooley is retiring from after six terms.

“We have a very good candidate in Kurt Schrader and we think he’s in a good position to move forward,” said Van Hollen, who argued that Schrader’s record as a moderate would serve him well in the race.

“That’s not a slam-dunk district for the Democrats, but we have a candidate who fits that political profile very well. So we’re confident we can hold on to that seat,” said Van Hollen.

Schrader is slated to face off in the May 22 primary against Steve Marks, a onetime aide to former Governor John Kitzhaber. Running in the Republican primary is Kevin Mannix, a former state Republican Party chair, and Mike Erickson, a shipping executive who ran for the seat in 2006.