Neil Newhouse, who served as Mitt Romney’s pollster during the 2012 campaign, does not believe the 2014 midterms are looking like a wave that would sweep Democrats out of office nationwide.

“I’m doubtful there’s going to be a real wave election,” Newhouse said Wednesday at a bipartisan panel sponsored by The Wall Street Journal. Waves happen, he said, when the other party isn’t prepared. “I don’t think we’re catching anybody by surprise.”

Both the Democratic and Republican strategists at the event agreed that the midterm map was challenging for Democrats.