Cook Political Report: GOP's Senate Stock Falls

[brooklynite]

By Charlie Cook
© National Journal Group Inc.

Early last year, some notable Senate leaders on both sides of the aisle speculated that the Democrats just might gain enough seats in 2008 to hit 60 votes, a filibuster-proof majority on strict party-line votes. At the time, the prospect seemed pretty outlandish.

...enip...

These days, Democrats still seem very unlikely to make the nine-seat gain necessary to reach 60, no matter whether Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut is wearing a blue, red, or independent purple jersey next season. But talk of hitting that threshold doesn't sound nearly as insane today as it did 20 months ago. Although Republicans enjoyed a brief burst of euphoria immediately after John McCain selected Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate, effectively giving the 72-year-old nominee the political equivalent of a Vitamin B12 shot, the rush has subsided. And most folks who watch Senate races closely say that the outlook for Republicans has deteriorated in recent weeks.

...snip...

For Republicans, holding the open GOP seat in Virginia has been hopeless for a long time. Keeping the seat being vacated by Republican Pete Domenici in New Mexico is likewise close to a lost cause. And although the Palin pick helped GOP incumbent Ted Stevens close the gap in Alaska, he remains the underdog, both with his home-state voters and the jury that was being selected this week in his federal ethics trial in Washington.

Six other Republican seats are now basically toss-ups -- those held by Norm Coleman of Minnesota, Elizabeth Dole of North Carolina, Gordon Smith of Oregon, John Sununu of New Hampshire, and Roger Wicker of Mississippi, plus the seat that Wayne Allard is giving up in Colorado. The GOP's prospects in Minnesota, Oregon, and North Carolina have dimmed a bit in the past month or two. The GOP candidates are trailing by a little in New Hampshire and Colorado; running about even in Minnesota, Oregon, and North Carolina; and polling a bit ahead in Mississippi.

[tekisui]

1. Poor repukes, it's been a long, long time since they have had a good

news day.:bounce:

[RubyDuby in GA]

2. We are also closing in on Saxby in GA

Jim Martin within 2 or 3 points

"But the real eye-opener may be the race between Republican incumbent Saxby Chambliss and Democrat Jim Martin. SurveyUSA says it’s now a two-point race, 46 percent to 44 percent. Libertarian Allen Buckley is at 5 percent.

That’s not dissimilar to the DSCC poll noted in this space yesterday, which put Chambliss at 37 percent, Martin at 34 percent, and Buckley at 3 percent."

http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/shared-blogs/ajc/politicalinsider/entries/2008/09/30/wmaz_poll_chambliss_and_martin.html



I will dance naked in my front yard if we can get rid of Saxby!!!!!!!!

[daa]

3. Dead heat !

I voted against Bubba Chambliss already.

[RubyDuby in GA]

4. Me too!

Voted last Friday. Felt great voting for our entire slate.