WASHINGTON, May 11 (UPI) -- Republican strategists faced with dwindling seats in the U.S. House of Representatives launched a $2 million territorial fight in the south, officials said.

Republican candidates in Mississippi and Louisiana face scandal and disgruntled voters in what is normally GOP territory. With a special election looming in Mississippi, a loss there would be the third straight nationally and the second in the south, The Washington Post (NYSE:WPO) said Sunday.

Vice President Dick Cheney arrives in Mississippi Monday to rally voters to the polls and The National Republican Congressional Committee already spent $1.7 million to keep its stronghold in the southern state. But some in the party say its time to reassess the party agenda.

"It's a time of sober reflection and, to some extent, resolve. I hope these special elections are a wake-up call," said Rep. Jeb Hensarling, R-Texas, who leads the conservative House caucus, the Republican Study Committee.

Democratic leaders see the momentum in their favor following a 30-seat loss in 2006 to give them control of the House.

"We will have a strong, confident, predictable Democratic majority to take us forward, and then we will be in 2010, 2012, on the path to a strong Democratic leadership for a long time to come," said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.