Senate Retirements Could Be Crucial In Upcoming Battle For Political Control On Capitol Hill

[Purveyor]

By PBS Newshour
Thursday, April 25, 2013 6:38 EDT

GWEN IFILL: Now: new developments in the upcoming battle for control of the Senate.

Montana Democrat Max Baucus surprised Capitol Hill today by announcing he will not seek reelection when his term ends next year. That makes him the eighth senator, and the sixth Democrat, to step aside. The two Republicans hold safe red seats in Nebraska and Georgia. And three of the Democrats are from states President Obama carried last fall. But the rest are tossups that may cost Democrats control of the Senate in 2014.

Plus, four more incumbent Democrats from North Carolina, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Alaska are considered vulnerable. So, can one senator's decision change the political landscape?

For that, we turn to Stuart Rothenberg of The Rothenberg Political Report and Amy Walter of The Cook Political Report.

Good to have you both here.

What's the answer to the question, Stu?


READ: Evangelicals Rally for Pathway to Citizenship and Immigration Reform
STUART ROTHENBERG, The Rothenberg Political Report: Yes, I think it changes the math a little bit.

There are four seats right off the top that Republicans are very optimistic about, two open in South Dakota and West Virginia, and then the two Democratic senators from the South, Mary Landrieu of Louisiana and Mark Pryor of Arkansas. Getting beyond that four is the challenge. It's not to say the Republicans will win any or all of those, but they have a pretty good chance.

So the question is can they broaden the playing field? Montana is an important addition. They need to put these other seats, as you mentioned, Alaska, North Carolina, into play.

GWEN IFILL: And Max Baucus is no backbencher.

AMY WALTER, The Cook Political Report: No, he's the chairman of a very, very important Finance Committee. And he's been around for 30 years.

That's what you're seeing with so many of these folks who are retiring. They have been committee chairmen. They have been in Congress for 30 or more years. Actually, the interesting thing about open seats is no party really wants to have an open seat. Right? They are usually are tougher to defend.

MORE...

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/04/25/senate-retirements-could-be-crucial-in-upcoming-battle-for-political-control-on-capitol-hill/

[mgcgulfcoast]

1. im not concerned

we will pick up 3 seats in 2014

[dsc]

3. that is nothing short of absurd

I think the retirements (except for Harkin and Levin) have actually been helpful. Levin's is unlikely to hurt and Harkin's is showing little signs of hurting. In short, the retirements have on balance been beneficial, but we still are in trouble. In WV, even with the helpful retirement we still are in trouble. In South Dakota, where retirement actually hurt, I don't see us keeping the seat. Pryor who is about worthless, is also in trouble. I trust Landreau to hold on. But the problem is we have no GOP seats in trouble to make up for our close to certain losses.

[Doctor_J]

2. I assume by "political control" they mean numbers per party

The Repukes have total control right now, despite being in the minority.