GOP Faces Growing Peril In 2008 Races: Senate Prospects Dimming

[DeepModem Mom]

GOP Faces Growing Peril In 2008 Races
Senate Prospects Dimming
By Jonathan Weisman and Chris Cillizza
Washington Post Staff Writer and washingtonpost.com Staff Writer
Sunday, September 2, 2007; Page A03

A Senate electoral playing field that was already wide open for 2008 has become considerably more perilous for Republicans with the retirement of Sen. John W. Warner (R-Va.) and the resignation of scandal-scarred Sen. Larry E. Craig (R-Idaho). Republicans need a net gain of just one seat to take back control of the Senate, but they have 22 seats to defend, and campaign cash is conspicuously lacking. Warner's retirement raised to two the number of open Republican seats, and both of them -- in Virginia and Colorado -- are prime targets for Democrats.

With former Democratic senator Bob Kerrey possibly waiting in the wings, Republicans are anxiously watching to see whether Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.) will retire. And two more Republican seats open for reelection -- in Wyoming and Idaho -- would be occupied by unelected appointees, John Barrasso and Craig's replacement.

"The state of the playing field looks very good, even in places where we didn't expect it to look good, even in deeply red states," said Sen. Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.), chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. "Things could change, but if you did a snapshot, we're going to have a good year."...

***

Beyond Idaho and Virginia, the playing field looks barren for Republicans, GOP campaign aides conceded. Fundraising at the NRSC has been weak, and Republicans appear to have only two real Democratic targets next year, Sens. Mary Landrieu (La.) and Tim Johnson (S.D.). Johnson's slow recovery from a brain hemorrhage has impeded Republicans from going on the attack.

The nonpartisan Cook Political Report on Wednesday rated the Colorado seat being vacated by Sen. Wayne Allard (R) as a tossup, but the state has been trending Democratic. Antiwar sentiments are turning some voters away from the GOP, imperiling the reelection prospects of Sens. Susan Collins (Maine), John E. Sununu (N.H.), Norm Coleman (Minn.) and Gordon Smith (Ore.)....

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/01/AR2007090100592.html?nav=hcmodule

[rocktivity]

1. This sounds like a job for the DU "Cry Me A River" String Quartet!

Maybe they DESERVE to have dimming prospects--YA THINK???

:nopity::nopity::nopity::nopity:
rocknation

[spag68]

2. rethug senators

should be ousted in some of those states on the environmental issue alone. Think of a Colorado winter with above freezing temps and all the ski resorts going bankrupt

[TygrBright]

3. I will buy a round of drinks for the Lounge on the day Norm the Weasel leaves office. n/t

[regnaD kciN]

4. Now, let's not get cocky...

There's lots of time left until November of 2008.

Personally, I'd just like to see us extend our majority to the point where we can tell Holy Joe "Sure, go ahead, turn Republican if you don't like our positions. Don't let the caucus room door hit you in the ass on the way out."

[avrdream]

5. Now, wouldn't THAT be satisfying?

"Hey Joe, meet my boot!"

[melody]

6. It's not being cocky, it's being hopeful

One of the ways the right-wing works us psychologically is by trying to make non-far-right-wingers
feel powerless and hopeless.