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WASHINGTON Democrats high hopes of mitigating House losses in a rough election year have been dashed by reality.

The question now is not whether Republicans hold the House thats a given. Rather, its how many seats could the GOP add to its majority on Election Day? And how close could it get to its post-World War II high of 246 in Harry S. Trumans administration?

Three weeks to Nov. 4, the House outlook remains bright for the GOP as national Democrats bail on once-promising opportunities in Virginia and Colorado, canceling television advertising to shift money to efforts to save vulnerable incumbents in Democrat-leaning states such as California and Illinois. Democrats also are transferring some of the cash to races where they stand a better chance.

Republican-leaning outside groups such as American Crossroads and American Action Network have pumped in millions of dollars targeting Democratic lawmakers.

Democrats cut $2.8 million in spending in northern Virginia, where John Foust faces state Delegate Barbara Comstock in a seat that Republican Frank Wolf has held for 34 years. The party also scaled back its spending in the Denver suburbs by $1.4 million despite its high expectations that former state House Speaker Andrew Romanoff could upend three-term Republican Rep. Mike Coffman in a district with a growing Hispanic population.

Democrats have raced to rescue freshman Rep. Ami Bera in the Sacramento, Calif., suburbs as he tries to fend off a challenge from former Republican Rep. Doug Ose, and shore up first-term Rep. Bill Enyart in his southwest Illinois race against state Rep. Mike Bost. Illinois Gov. Pat Quinns struggle in his re-election bid is making life tough for Enyart and another freshman, Democratic Rep. Brad Schneider.

This is a challenging climate, but were not looking at 2010, insisted Rep. Steve Israel, D-N.Y., chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. Every Democratic incumbent is either winning or tied and we have solid opportunities to win in Republican-held districts across the country.

Republicans hold a 234-201 edge in the House, counting Eric Cantors onetime Richmond, Va.-area seat which the GOP is expected to win and two vacant Democratic seats, one in New Jersey, the other in North Carolina.

The Republican rout of 2010, marked by tea-party anger toward Obama and the health-care law, cost Democrats 63 seats. Those gains make the universe of competitive races much smaller this election around two dozen.

Democrats have legitimate shots at defeating Republicans Lee Terry in Nebraska and Steve Southerland in Florida while capturing open seats in California, Iowa and Arkansas, according to Republicans and Democrats closely following the campaigns. But two-term Republican Rep. Michael Grimm is still considered a favorite in New York despite his 20-count indictment on federal tax-evasion charges.

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Democrats hopes for U.S. House gains fading fast