Twenty spins you'll hear from partisan flacks Tuesday night.

1 We did better than Newt Gingrich said we would.

Gingrich, with typical chutzpah, has predicted the GOP could pick up 40 or more House seats. Democrats, with equal chutzpah, will portray anything less as a Democratic victory.

2. We did better than the pundits said we would.

The conventional wisdom on likely Republican gains has ranged from six to 20 House seats and from three to five Senate seats. If Democrats hold the GOP below the upper end of this range, they'll claim victory. If Republicans beat the lower end, they'll claim victory.

3 We did well, considering how heavily we were outspent.

Democrats will use this alibi in nearly every close race. Republicans will claim that many of their candidates were outspent, if you count the additional "union money."

4. We did well, considering the president's difficulties.

Democrats will offer this excuse without acknowledging that it implies the public is still upset with the president's behavior. Simultaneously, they will assert that the election is a mandate for ending the investigation of the president's behavior.

5. We did well, considering the backlash against the investigation.

Republicans will offer this excuse without acknowledging that the backlash is mainstream. Instead, they'll portray it as a surge of turnout among diehard Clinton supporters.