My Senate shockers:

[cali]

I'm going to go waaay out on a limb here and predict some startling upsets. Just for the fun of it.

NE: Kleeb will win by a tiny margin over Johanes. Why? Well, aside from his being a very appealing candidate, it's a change year EVERYWHERE in the country. Johanns is a former Gov and former member of the bush administration. Kleeb is 32 and in his race for the house last time out he pulled 45% in a district where bush pulled 75%. And yeah, it doesn't hurt Scott that he's drop dead yadda yadda yadda.

NC: I'm betting Kay Hagan wins over the dreadful (and boring) Liddy Dole. I believe Liddy is now polling under 50%.

AK: Begich will beat half-dead Ted. He's already polling a few point higher than Ted.

OR: Either Novick or Merkley will be the dem nom. Either will beat Smith. Smith is not terribly popular. Again, it's a change year

I also think we'll win VA, NH, NM and CO. I don't think Franken (sob) will beat Norm Coleman. I think Landrieu will defeat Kennedy and Johnson will win in SD.

Toss up: Maine. Allen has made some gains on Susan Collins, but she remains wildly popular.

If things panned out this way, dems would have 59 votes if you include the two independents who caucus with the dems. And no, loathsome joe won't switch teams. There's nothing in it for joe.

[panader0]

1. Overall nets ins Senate and House?

[cali]

2. I think we'll pick up 6 to 9 in the Senate and lose none.

In the House, I see dems netting 20ish.

[tbyg52]

3. How about "Noriega beats Cornyn" (TX)

Polls taken in the spring sometimes don't accurately reflect the political realities of autumn.

But they sure are fun to discuss, particularly if you have a survey that suggests an incumbent senator is in danger of being ousted.

In Texas, the political conversation centers on a Rasmussen Reports poll that shows Republican Sen. John Cornyn leading Democrat Rick Noriega by only four points, 47 percent to 43 percent.

More:
http://dallasnews.ottoforge.com/redir.html?fw=http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/localnews/columnists/gjeffers/stories/DN-jeffers_14met.ART.State.Edition1.461c495.html

[cali]

6. How could I forget that one!!

I do think that's a possibility. That would be so fantastic. And if all my longshots won, it'd make it 60- though trusting Joe is absurd.

[tekisui]

4. Franken can do it. He needs some more money.

He can deliver MN, if things line up right. I'd really like to get to 60.

[NC_Nurse]

5. Hi, cali! Bev Perdue is running for Governor, not Senate. The candidate for

Senate in NC is Kay Hagan - I hope she beats Liddy too! :hi:

[cali]

7. Thanks. Doh. I'll change that.