

Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio). (Charles Dharapak/Associated Press)

Sens. Rob Portman (R) and Chuck Schumer (D) discussed their views of the midterm election on NBC's "Meet the Press" on Sunday.

"The voter intensity is on our side," Portman said. "All the polls show this is going to be a good year for Republicans."

Portman also referred to President Obama's comments this month that his policies are on the ballot even though he isn't, a line that Republicans have used in ads to tie Obama to their opponents, a tactic that Schumer characterized as ineffective.

"As the race gets down to the final moments, the voters focus on the two candidates, not a national referendum," he said.



Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) (Ricky Carioti/The Washington Post)

Schumer also said Democrats were in a good position because voters' top concern is the economy.

"On the issues that matter the most to Americans, on jobs ... the Republicans have said no on each of those," he said.