Good synopsis, NYT: Things to look for in Tuesday's midterm elections
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/01/us/politics/what-is-on-the-line-in-the-midterm-elections.html?rref=homepage&module=Ribbon&version=origin®ion=Header&action=click&contentCollection=Home%20Page&pgtype=article
Things to look for in Tuesday’s midterm elections:
Control of the Senate:
• The Republicans need to pick up six seats in order to gain the majority. They have about a 70 percent chance of doing so, according to the latest forecast from The Upshot.
• They appear to be in strong position to win four seats held by Democrats — in Arkansas, Montana, South Dakota and West Virginia.
• The task could be complicated if they lose Republican-held seats in
Georgia, Kansas and Kentucky — three races that remain close.
• The other Senate races that will likely will determine the balance of power are in purple states currently held by Democrats —
Alaska, Colorado, Iowa, New Hampshire and North Carolina.
• In Louisiana, a three-way race could mean no candidate gets 50 percent, leading to a runoff, which would not be held until December.
The House:
• Republicans will almost certainly maintain control.
• The big question is how many seats they will pick up and whether a bigger majority will make Speaker John A. Boehner’s job easier or harder, as he tries to keep his caucus together.
Statehouses:
• Some of the most compelling races have been for governor.
• In Wisconsin, a win by Gov. Scott Walker, a Republican, could help him emerge as a strong candidate for president in 2016.
• Former Gov. Charlie Crist of Florida is trying to reclaim his seat, this time as a Democrat.
• In Kansas, Gov. Sam Brownback faces a backlash from voters and a potential Republican revolt.
What else to watch:
• The most talked-about ballot initiatives have to do with the legalization of marijuana and an increase in the minimum wage.
• There are also interesting down-ballot races, and The Times has provided a helpful guide for all 50 states.
The electorate:
• The mood of the national electorate is very uneasy, with the threat of Ebola and the rise of the Islamic State adding to an undercurrent of economic anxiety.
• President Obama’s unpopularity is hindering Democrats, but Republicans are also viewed unfavorably.
• Though Republicans have sought to nationalize the election, the political environment varies from state to state, as demonstrated in a series of state portraits The Times published on Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Iowa, Louisiana and North Carolina.
