Democrats Eye Governor Races for 2014 Gains
For Democrats, gaining seats in Congress this year is a tall order. But their outlook is rosier at the state level, where party members in gubernatorial races are on the offensive in states where the president has twice been victorious.
Democrats are hoping to take out some of the governors in the class of 2010 -- a midterm year in which the GOP swept up statehouses and legislatures that gave them the upper hand in redistricting -- including some potential 2016 presidential candidates. For their part, Republicans hope to hold serve in 2014 while laying the groundwork for the presidential contest to follow and helping GOP governors eyeing the White House.
One anomaly for both parties is that Republicans hope to gain Senate seats in states the president lost, while Democrats hope to gain governors' seats in states Mitt Romney lost.
For Democrats, their road to governors' mansions runs through Rust Belt states President Obama won in 2008 and 2012, while their path for retaining the Senate majority travels through the South and Northwest in states he lost. Republicans have to protect 22 of the 36 governors' seats up in 2014, while Democrats have to protect just 14.
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2014/02/26/democrats_eye_governor_races_for_2014_gains.html#ixzz2vUsQ78a4
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