Rothenberg Political Report: More GOP Headaches, and One for Democrats

[brooklynite]

Recent developments have improved Democrats’ prospects in their fight to take the Senate, with the Republican hold on the chamber looking more tenuous than even a month ago.

While the renomination of Rhode Island Sen. Lincoln Chafee has improved GOP chances of holding onto his seat, Virginia Sen. George Allen’s ongoing problems have put a previously safe Republican seat at growing risk. The development in Virginia has a far greater impact on the fight for control, since it means a sixth GOP seat — the magic number for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee — is now in play.

...snip...

In the Senate, we moved three races:
-Virginia from Clear Advantage to Narrow Advantage for George Allen (R)
-Washington from Narrow Advantage to Clear Advantage for Maria Cantwell (D)
-Minnesota from Narrow Advantage to Clear Advantage for the Democrats

In the House, we moved three races and added two seats (click here for our ratings):
-Arizona 8 from Toss-Up/Tilt Democratic to Lean Democratic for the Democrats
-West Virginia 1 from Lean Democratic to Democrat Favored for Alan Mollohan (D)
-Florida 13 from Lean Republican to Toss-Up/Tilt Republican toward the Democrats
-California 11 (Pombo) and California 4 (Doolittle) were added to the list

In Gubernatorial races, we moved four races (click here for our ratings):
-Colorado open from Toss-Up to Lean Takeover for the Democrats
-Minnesota (Pawlenty) from Narrow Advantage to Toss-Up
-Alaska open from Toss-Up to Narrow Advantage Incumbent Party for the Republicans
-Pennsylvania from Clear Advantage to Currently Safe for Ed Rendell (D)

http://www.rothenbergpoliticalreport.blogspot.com/

[Tellurian]

1. The R.I. Gubernatorial race is in play..

Hmmm, they're not reporting it.

Public sentiment is anti GOP across the board.

[KingFlorez]

2. Looks good

We're not losing a lot of ground, which is good because we can play offense. The past couple of cycles we've had to play a lot defense, this time it's minimal.

[zonkers]

3. I regularly read Rothenberg. Things are explained so clearly.