Senate 2008: Looking good for Democrats!

[Dob Bole]

No matter what happens this year, whether Democrats or Republicans win by a seat or two, the Senate will be virtually tied. Hopefully Democrats will narrowly capture both houses, because in doing so they will guarantee that the voice of Republicans in 2008 is George W. Bush...and that is awesome.

Nevertheless, no matter how well Democrats fare this year, they have an excellent opportunity to improve their standing in the Senate again two years from now. Democrats have 12 seats to defend in 2008, while Republicans have 21. Possible Senate seats that could change hands in '08:

1. John Warner (R-VA) won 83% of the vote in 2002, but he will be 81 and may retire. If he does, Mark Warner could win the Senate seat easily.

2. Wayne Allard (R-CO) won with only 51% of the vote last time.

3. Norm Coleman (R-MN) got only 49% of the vote last time.

4. John Sununu (R-NH) got 51% of the vote in 2002. John Kerry kerried the state in 2004.

5. Lamar Alexander (R-TN), Saxby Chambliss (R-GA), Elizabeth Dole (R-NC), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), and John Cornyn (R-TX) all got 55% or less in 2002...while Bush's approval rating was around 75%. In each case, a strong candidate will be needed to unseat them. But I can foresee Elizabeth Dole having a strong primary challenge, since many Republicans are unhappy with her performance chairing the RSCC. If Harold Ford wins in Tennesee, he and Gov. Breseden would be strong fundraisers for whoever runs against Lamar Alexander.

6. Ted Stevens (R-AK) could also retire. He will be 85.

Democrats on the other hand, will be less vulnerable. Mary Landrieu won with 52% in 2002, but that was before Hurricane Katrina. Tim Johnson (D-SD) got 50% in 2002, and could be the most vulnerable.

source: electoral-vote.com

[Hoosier Dem]

1. In Tennessee...

What about ruinning Phil Bredensen against Lamar Alexander? Bredensen is coasting to re-election and I think TN term-linits their governors to two.

If Mark Warner runs in VA, this is a sure-fire D pick-up.

Norm Coleman can be outsed with a good candidate. His "victory" in 2002 was a fluke.

I don't see us beating Cornyn , Chambliss, or picking up Alaska.

If the rumors are true and Lindsey graham is outed, that race could become very interesting.

[election_2004]

26. Rosalind Kurita...

...should be the U.S. Senate candidate in '08. Bredesen will probably prefer to concentrate on his second term as Governor.

[waiting for hope]

2. Liddy Dole

makes my skin crawl - I can't wait until she's unseated - Is Erskine Bowles up for another run?

[Benhurst]

3. Yeah, five's always a charm. If, as I fear, the 2006 elections

join the fixed elections of 2000, 2002 and 2004, I'm sure we'll make a clean sweep in 2008.

[Dob Bole]

6. Thank you, Captain Downer...

but there is no conceivable way that Democrats will not gain seats this year. And if they don't, I will eat my hat.*

*- This is a trick. My hat is a Mario hat with a 1up on it. So if I eat my hat, I will become more powerful!

[Benhurst]

9. Gaining seats will not be enough. We need to win control of at

least one branch of the government.

I hope we will be able to do so. But the people who engineered stealing the last three elections face jail time if they don't succeed this time around.

I fear all stops will be pulled out. And they will have the support the corporate press if they do.

As long as the Republicans maintain control all three branches of government, this country shall remain captive to the neo-cons, the relitious right and the large corporations.

As of today, the protections of even the Magna Carta have been removed, rights our ancestors took for granted when they rebelled against the crown.

Americans are less free today than English-speaking people have been since the Roman occupation of Britain.

And while whistling a happy tune may have worked for Deborah Kerr in The King and I, it will do nothing to change the situation in BushAmerica.

[Dob Bole]

15. Umm...

the Senate will be an uphill battle, but it is possible. Nevertheless, you have set the criteria by which you can claim the election is stolen: if the Democrats do not win control of the Senate, then the election was stolen.

Point #2: "As long as the Republicans maintain control all three branches of government, this country shall remain captive to the neo-cons, the relitious right and the large corporations."

The country is hardly captive to the religious right. The Southern Baptist convention sometimes is, but that's about it. Not to mention that the religious right and the large corporations are often at odds, and these clash with the neocons as well. "Compassionate conservatism" was a philosphy that enabled Bush to form a coalition in 2000, but this coalition is gone and religious conservatives are leaving. Plus, we have no absolute guarantee that Democrats will not form coalitions and keep some of the same policies rolling- though we're hoping they won't.

Point of contention #3: "As of today, the protections of even the Magna Carta have been removed, rights our ancestors took for granted when they rebelled against the crown. Americans are less free today than English-speaking people have been since the Roman occupation of Britain."

What? I don't know about you (you must be typing from Guantanamo prison or something) but I have way more freedoms than my serf ancestors.

"Whistling the happy tune" of logic and political science,

Dob Bole

[Benhurst]

17. Political "science" says it all.

[Dob Bole]

18. Maybe. Or, as you said: "fear."

I refuse to fear any Republican. We'll outsmart them, and we'll beat them at their own game. If we can't do that now, then we never will.

[Benhurst]

19. They will eventually be defeated-- but it may take

a generation or two.

Freedoms lost are rarely restored -- and ours have been given away.

As of today, our very lives are no longer a right but a privilege, held at the whim of The Leader. Even in the Dark Ages, our English ancestors could seek sanctuary from the Church when pursued by the king. We have no such right.

Bush has more power under law than any English-speaking ruler since Roman times.

[KingFlorez]

4. Colorado is a sure pickup

Allard will not be running and the Democrats will have Mark Udall running and he's sure to win.

[paulk]

13. that will be a race to watch

Udall is a true liberal, currently representing Colorado's 2nd district (Boulder). If Colorado can elect a liberal in a statewide race (something we haven't been able to do since Tim Wirth) it will mean we've truly joined the ranks of the blue states..

[Nite Owl]

5. #4 Sununu

Wasn't there some illegal stuff done by the GOP in this race, calls being blocked for the dems? People went to jail for this, so did he really win this seat in the first place?

[Hav]

7. .

These are good news indeed. Of course, we have to hope that the political climate in 2008 will be good for the Dems.
If we nominate a good candidate and win it, the Dems would have nice majorities in the Senate and probably in the House as well.

[keta11]

8. Norm Coleman

Is that the same former liberal Democrat, anti-vietnam war student leader NORM "these conservative kids don't fuck or get high like we do..." COLEMAN?

The same NORM "I am a lifelong Democrat...From Bobby Kennedy to George McGovern to Warren Spannaus to Hubert Humphrey to Walter Mondale — my commitment to the great values of our party has remained solid." COLEMAN?????

The 1996 chair of Paul Wellstone's Senate re-election campaign COLEMAN???
----

I thought his time was never gonna come up for re-election to the Senate. I will do everything I can to help anyone who challenges this slimy traitor in 2008!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[sharp_stick]

10. That would be the POS in question

Please do all you can to oust the prick from Government.

[keta11]

11. In all my life, I have never seen a more hypocrite in my life

He is the most calculating power-hungry politician, done a complete 180 from his poltical positions for power and greed. Unbelievable!

[Hippo_Tron]

12. I don't think Coleman chaired Wellstone's '96 campaign

I could be wrong, though...

[calimary]

14. smarmy normy coleman and that damned detestable saxby

chickenhawk chambliss would be my choices for an aggressive challenge. I'd like to see both of them get the heave-ho. In fact, I'd love to see that NOW. TODAY. I don't even want to wait til November.

[Dob Bole]

16. As much as I dislike Saxby Chambliss...

(I even challenged him to wrestle me on TV once, a la Al Franken...)

He's more secure than his poll numbers show. The reason is not that everyone loves Saxby Chambliss. It's that the Georgia Democratic Party leaned on Zell Miller too much, and now there is no Georgia Democratic Party. In 2002 Democrats controlled the governorship and both Senate seats, but now there are not many high-profile Democrats left in the state with the organization to challenge this clown.

[Hippo_Tron]

22. If Mark Taylor almost beats Perdue could he challenge Chambliss?

McCaskill is doing well in her race because voters are wishing they had elected her Governor instead of Matt Blunt.

[Dob Bole]

28. It's possible...

Mark Taylor was the only statewide Democrat to win reelection in 2002. Cathy Cox, the secretary of Education who lost to Taylor in the primary, could also be a possibility.

[election_2004]

29. Hopefully, Taylor takes out Sonny Perdue...

...and Cox goes on to defeat Suxby.

[thatsrightimirish]

20. Don't forget

Susan Collins pledged that she will leave the Senate after 2 terms, so she shouldn't run for reelection

[Hippo_Tron]

23. Maine is almost a sure Dem pickup if Collins retires

[thatsrightimirish]

21. Also,

we can knock off Pete Domenici in New Mexico and Gordon Smith in Oregon

[saltpoint]

24. Thank you for posting this. It's important to keep an eye on the

road ahead, and in many ways, it's all the same election.

I like the general outlook for our side. I think Elizabeth Dole will not seek re-election. She was never the Senator type to begin with, and you're right that many Rethugs are displeased with her Senate recruiting this time.

[SaveElmer]

25. Warner may wait and run for Governor again...

If Webb doesn't make it this time he would be the prohibitive favorite in 2008

[election_2004]

27. Pete Domenici and Gordon Smith

I wouldn't be surprised if Domenici retires. Patricia Madrid could run for his seat...regardless of whether or not she defeats Heather Wilson this fall.

Gordon Smith is beatable in Oregon, but a strong Democrat needs to step up to the plate. Greg MacPherson or Vicki Walker might be possibilities.

That being said, it's still imperative to keep the Johnson and Landrieu seats...yet another reason why Hillary must NOT be at the top of the presidential ticket for that election.