I don't believe it will happen before the election . . . all Congress has to do is nothing for the AWB to expire . . . but after the election, I'm not so sure.
With a GOP house, a GOP senate and a GOP president, any renewal of the AWB will make it a GOP gun ban. I'll blame the party, as any scenario for renewal before the AWB expires will require the actions of a whole bunch of Republicans, not just one man.
And if the AWB is renewed before the election, I will not vote for ANY member of the GOP for ANY office, even if it's third assistant dog catcher in my home town.
Better a declared enemy (Democrats) than a backstabbing "friend."
(Bush's hard left turns during the past two years are making it harder and harder to justify voting for him anyway . . . an AWB renewal would be the proverbial straw that breaks the camel's back.)