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Durbin Believes Democrats Can Retake House

CHICAGO (CBS) -- U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) has gone out on a limb, predicting Democrats will re-take control of the House on Tuesday.

WBBM Newsradio's John Waelti reports, although many observers believe Democrats will pick up a handful of seats in the U.S. House this year, few expect them to win back the House entirely from Republicans.

Included in that few, though, is Durbin, who only recently said Republicans were likely to retain the House.

"I've changed my mind," Durbin said. "I think we do have a chance to take back a majority in the House."

LISTEN: WBBM Newsradio's John Waelti Reports

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Durbin said he believes Democrats have a chance of picking up five additional seats in Illinois alone.

"We can add to the majority of Democrats in the House of Representatives right here in Illinois," said Durbin.

However, he would not say which specific Republican-held districts he believes could be won by Democrats on Tuesday.

Republicans currently hold a 49-seat edge in the House. Democrats held a 78-seat advantage before Republicans took control of the House in the 2010 elections.

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