Control Of The Senate Still a Longshot

Before our euphoria gets too crazy, keep in mind that Republicans still have the inside track to maintain control of the Senate. Here are the five poll averages in the races that will determine control (updated for last night's new polls):
  • Rhode Island: Whitehouse (D) 47.4%--41.6% Chafee (R)
  • Montana: Tester (D) 47.4%--42.0% Burns (R)
  • New Jersey: Menendez (D) 46.2%--42.6% Kean (R)
  • Missouri: Talent (R) 46.8%--45.4% McCaskill (D)
  • Virginia: Allen (R) 47.6%--46.0% Webb (D)
  • Tennessee: Corker (R) 47.6%--44.8% (Ford (D)
Democrats need to win five of these six races in order to take control by a single seat, and that doesn't not even factor in Lieberman. We have seen some slippage in Missouri lately, and even more slippage in Tennessee. On the flip side, we are clearly gaining in Virginia. But, like I said, we need five of these six races to take control, and Republicans are currently leading, with cash advantages, in the three border states.

Never once in this cycle have I predicted Democrats to take control of the Senate, and I will be stunned if we manage to do so on November 7th. I do still hope for a pickup of four or five seats in the Senate, taking control of the House, winning the majority of Governors, and doing some real damage in state legislatures. To say the least, that wouldn't be half bad. Republicans controlling the Senate would be an extremely unfortunate event, but with Republicans defending 40 of the 67 Senate seats up for election in 2008 and 2010, we would have a very good chance to take a large majority going into the 2012 elections. Even if Republicans were to win 34 of the 67 seats up for election in 2008 and 2010, that would mean Democrats pick up six seats. As we sprint to the finish line this year, it needs to be remembered that taking back our country is a long-term project.



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Re: Control Of The Senate Still a Longshot (none / 0)

I think you mean '64 of the 67 seats up for election', right?


by Murdoch on Wed Oct 25, 2006 at 10:06:55 AM EST

Re: Control Of The Senate Still a Longshot (none / 0)

Uh, if the Republicans won 64 seats they would have, like, a huge majority.

To be more specific, we will be defending 27 seats in the next 2 elections, and Republicans will be defending 40.  So we'll have an edge there.


Tim Wolfe
by bruorton on Wed Oct 25, 2006 at 10:14:40 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Control Of The Senate Still a Longshot (none / 0)

I think Ford is officially a longshot now.  His ill-advised gate-crashing stunt is clearly hurting him, the climate is relatively favorable for the GOP in TN (W's approval rating is actually in the 40s), and there is still the ugly undertone of racism.  The only thing that he has going for him is that at the top of the ticket is a Dem Gov that will win by 30% or more, but it's really starting to look no so good for him.

MT is getting closer, but I think Tester can pull this one out.  He seems like a real down-to-earth moderate kind of guy that can win in a red-compromised state.

NJ seems to be moving clearly towards Menendez, especially with the flap over some GOP PAC's anti-Italian racist commercial that was aired and then quickly pulled. Even though it didn't come from Kean, it's getting him a lot of bad press (even Curtis Sliwa was trashing the commercial as counter-productive today).

VA is one that has obviously been GOP-leaning all along, but that I really want to see Allen lose.  He's exactly the kind of guy that needs to be booted from Congress.  Webb has momentum and I'm still hopeful that he can close the deal, but I'm not too optimistic.  Both the pre-election polls and the exit polls in VA in 2004 were very skewed towards Democrats.

The real battleground is MO.  I'd have to give Talent a tiny edge if I had to bet on this, but I like Claire McCaskill and I think this one is a real dead heat.

With PA, RI, & OH in clear Democratic control, MT a fairly likely pickup, NJ safely defended, and considering Lieberman a Democrat, that puts the Senate at 49 or 50 depending on how McCaskill does.  While technically still in GOP control under Cheyney, it puts the Democratic party in a great position to take the Senate in 08 with so many vulnerable Republican seats up.  With the House most likely under Dem control already, it makes it even more critical to find the best Presidential candidate.


NJ Hussein Independent
by NJIndependent on Wed Oct 25, 2006 at 10:21:04 AM EST

Re: Control Of The Senate Still a Longshot (none / 0)

My thinking is pretty much the same as yours on all these races, and I've always assumed the Senate takeover would happen in '08, when the field will be 2/3 Republican defenders. As you say, a great presidential candidate could make a huge difference in racking up Congressional majorities.

However, I wouldn't count Ford out yet -- he's the only one of the Democrats in the three crucial battleground states actually ahead in cash, rather than way behind (and Corker would be the first of the 3 Republicans to be hurt by low conservative turnout). Still, given VA Dems' recent ability to turn out in high numbers and Warner's coming to Webb's aid, I'd agree it's still 3rd of the 3 in likelihood.

Also, don't assume Lieberman's going back home to DC quite yet.  Having volunteered on the ground in CT, and given the wacky dynamics of the race, I doubt anyone will be able to predict the outcome ahead of time.


Tim Wolfe
by bruorton on Wed Oct 25, 2006 at 10:49:46 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Control Of The Senate Still a Longshot (none / 0)

I agree.  Ford is not dead.  I just consider him a longshot now (mostly his own doing, too, unfortunately).  As far as money goes, Corker got the best advertising he could get for free when Ford decided to try to crash his press conference.

And with Lieberman, I know that race isn't over.  My point (which admittedly wasn't articulated well in retrospect) is that if you consider Lieberman a Democrat, then the race is Dem vs. Dem (barring some last minute miracle from Schlesinger) and the seat is safely Democratic either way.


NJ Hussein Independent
by NJIndependent on Wed Oct 25, 2006 at 11:16:59 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Control Of The Senate Still a Longshot (none / 0)

...The real battleground is MO.  I'd have to give Talent a tiny edge if I had to bet on this, but I like Claire McCaskill and I think this one is a real dead heat...

Here in Missouri we're all pedaling as fast as we can to make sure Jim Talent has a new job in January as a beltway lobbyist.


543,895 votes
by Michael Bersin on Wed Oct 25, 2006 at 11:23:31 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Cheney out of the bunker (none / 0)

I have seen zero discussion of the implication of a 50-50 Senate and Cheney being forced to spend a huge chunk of time within minutes of the Senate floor so as to break ties. No more "undisclosed location" for you Dick. And what would be the political impact of the VP personally being the vote to kill popular House originated legislation like minimum wage and medicare drug bargaining?  Does the White House really want to get its hands dirty day in and day out with Cheney in the Senate President's chair?

I don't know, but things are increasingly shaking out that we are on the verge of finding out. 50 Democratic Senators can effectively have Cheney at their beck and call just about any time they want. Which to say the least would be a huge change in the dynamic.

Dick Cheney: lap dog of the Democratic Caucus. Seems like somebody who knows something should be discussing this but if this topic is getting any traction anywhere I am not seeing it.


by Bruce Webb on Sat Oct 28, 2006 at 12:27:17 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Control Of The Senate Still a Longshot (none / 0)

Border states?


by globecanvas on Wed Oct 25, 2006 at 10:22:17 AM EST

Yeah, border states ... (none / 0)

... traditionally, either side of the borders of the Confederate States of America, sometime in the early 60's (nineteenth century version) ... as opposed to "Deep South", which would be former CSA states without a Union border at that time.

To wit (East to West, Union view of legitimacy of West Virginia): Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Missouri, Arkansas, Oklahama (Indian Territories at the time), Texas.

Versus "Deep South", North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Missisippi.

And don't fracken ask me about LA and FL, the application of political terms is messy because politics is messy. e.g., in 1968, Wallace took the electoral college votes of GA, AL, MS, AR & LA, and 1 in NC.

And AFAIU, Maryland stopped being considered to be much of a "border state" sometime in the lifespan of the term, but I am not sure when, because I was not paying very close attention ... if it happened as a result of the WWII boom in DC, then I would not have been alive at the time.


*John Edwards* ... and the JE08 Supporters Blog
by BruceMcF on Wed Oct 25, 2006 at 10:52:49 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Everyone help in some way (none / 0)

These seats will be won on the ground. I live in MD, but there is no canvassing going on on Sunday, so I plan to go to VA to help Webb.  You can sign up on Webb's web site to phone from home, so you can do that no matter where you live, from what I have seen.  Give money, give time, work with Moveon.org, just get out there in some way to help these close Senate races.


by MDMan on Wed Oct 25, 2006 at 10:48:14 AM EST

Re: Control Of The Senate Still a Longshot (none / 0)

I was really getting excited about MO when McCaskill was getting those favorable polls last week, but it's clear now the race is basically dead tied.  This isn't good considering all of Talent's money.  But McCaskill is a strong candidate.  She only lost to Blunt in 2004 by under 100,000 votes, which Kerry lost to Bush by about 200,000 in the state.  I hope the DSCC comes in strong for McCaskill in the final week.  Even if we come up 1 short of a majority every Senate seat counts.  1 Senator can be the difference between a successful fillibuster of a far right wing judge being appointed to the Supreme Court.  McCaskill will also be a reliable progressive voter in the Senate.


by blueryan on Wed Oct 25, 2006 at 11:23:45 AM EST

MO VA (none / 0)

I feel better about MO than I do VA. What concerns me about VA is that with all the the things that Allen did in recent months Webb still has not gained that much. Webb is a good candidate and Allen is a really poor GOP candidate albeit an incumbent but it may be that the demographics too strongly favor the GOP.


BlueSunbelt.Com Netroots for the Sunbelt states robwire.com My personal blog
by robliberal on Wed Oct 25, 2006 at 11:32:39 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Control Of The Senate Still a Longshot (none / 0)

LA Times today has some positive news:

"In Virginia, Democrat Jim Webb led Republican Sen. George Allen, 47% to 44%."


by kekavala on Wed Oct 25, 2006 at 11:35:57 AM EST

Electoral-Vote.com (none / 0)

Please go here and "see" what things are looking like.
http://electoral-vote.com/

We can all plainly see what three states need our help to win the senate!

The good thing.. I guess... is that the polls do not reflect 100% of the vote.  So where are the rest of the poll numbers going?


Washington Woman

Progressive Blue

by kevin22262 on Wed Oct 25, 2006 at 11:38:16 AM EST

Re: Control Of The Senate Still a Longshot (none / 0)

Undecideds break for the challenger don't forget.


by Lucas O'Connor on Wed Oct 25, 2006 at 12:03:52 PM EST

Re: Control Of The Senate Still a Longshot (none / 0)

Yeah this rule worked real well for Kerry in 2004....


by blueryan on Wed Oct 25, 2006 at 01:01:21 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Control Of The Senate Still a Longshot (none / 0)

Maybe, but Bush's approval was at least ten points higher then. I just felt like having an optimistic morning.


by Lucas O'Connor on Wed Oct 25, 2006 at 01:53:31 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Webb Ahead, New AZ Poll (none / 0)

I may have spoke too soon about VA. I am not sure which polling outfit is involved but AZ could be getting close enough to be in play.

"Jim Webb is up over George Allen in Virginia (47-44), and Jim Pederson creeps into striking distance of Jon Kyl in Arizona (41-47)."  

http://www.tnr.com/blog/theplank?pid=517 62


BlueSunbelt.Com Netroots for the Sunbelt states robwire.com My personal blog
by robliberal on Wed Oct 25, 2006 at 12:06:15 PM EST

Are we filling a leaky bucket? (3.00 / 1)

This may seem off topic, but I don't think it is.  With several key Senate races (and a larger number of House races) very close, I can't help but ask "what is being done by the Dems to insure that votes actually get counted properly?"

I know there's mixed views on how much cheating has happened and can happen with electronic voting and other problem areas, but I think it's fair to assume that Rove and his network of operatives will not forego ANY tool that can help the Republicans retain control of Congress.

To me, this raises the unfortunate question of whether the Dems (and the netroots) continue to build a better and better system for filling the electoral bucket with votes (a worthy and admirable effort), while largely neglecting the fact that the bucket has many holes in it, and that there are those with motive and apparent capacity to manipulate the results of key races to insure that Republicans retain control of at least one and (God forbid) both houses.

I may be (and hope I'm) wrong, but I don't see any concerted effort to insure the integrity of the vote, especially in key states and districts.  I also hope I'm wrong that this apparent deficiency will make a difference on Nov 7.


by mitchipd on Wed Oct 25, 2006 at 12:18:18 PM EST

Re: Are we filling a leaky bucket? (3.00 / 1)

what should we do about it?


by Lucas O'Connor on Wed Oct 25, 2006 at 12:42:27 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Are we filling a leaky bucket? (none / 0)

I don't know enough to make really educated suggestions, but it seems like Dems should be mobilizing monitors in close races, both onsite and to "watch" the whole process at local and state levels.  Some would have tech expertise, some legal, some doing legwork, etc.  A web site could be set up (probably too late for that now, if not done already) to gather, disseminate info and coordinate efforts.  One small anecdotal piece of info suggesting lack of focused effort is that my father, a retired judge living in Florida, was invited by the local Dem organization in 04 to serve as part of a local election monitoring team (he was the "legal" expert on the team).  But he wasn't contacted at all this time around.


by mitchipd on Wed Oct 25, 2006 at 01:06:51 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Are we filling a leaky bucket? (none / 0)

Sign up to be a Poll Watcher

I don't mean to come off as snide, I think it's a good thing to bring up. It's out there already though, even if it's flying under the radar.


by Lucas O'Connor on Wed Oct 25, 2006 at 01:45:29 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Maybel a Longshot, Maybe Just Unlikely (none / 0)

Longshot sounds like a virtual impossibility.  But 13 days is still a long time at the end of a campaign, and the GOP has been crumbling in multiple ways.  With Pederson finally moving up in Arizona, this campaign may have a few more surprises in store for us before the end.  We could still end up winning a 2-seat edge.

Now, 3 seats, that's a long shot.


by Paul Rosenberg on Wed Oct 25, 2006 at 12:23:55 PM EST

Re: Maybel a Longshot, Maybe Just Unlikely (none / 0)

I was goint to ask about/point out Arizona.  That race just keeps narrowing, and I could definitely see Pederson pulling off the upset at this point.


Give to Redistricting Project candidates for Democratic maps 2011-2021! http://www.actblue.com/page/redistrictin gproject
by Sandwich Repairman on Wed Oct 25, 2006 at 01:31:13 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Maybel a Longshot, Maybe Just Unlikely (none / 0)

I was goint to ask about/point out Arizona.  That race just keeps narrowing, and I could definitely see Pederson pulling off the upset at this point.

Wouldn't be all that great an upset.  Quite a bit of time left and the polls remain only estimates at best.  

On the other side a win by Steele in MD looks to me like a very real possibility.  Whatever else he may be, Steele is slicker than snot.  

I disagree with the Democratic majority being a long shot as of today but the specter of Lieberman haunts the happy prospect.  If we win in TN but lose in VA, have we not lost as liberals?  

The forecasting business is a lot of fun but not to be taken too seriously.  Appreciate the effort very much.  Keeps the old heart pumping.

Best,  Terry  


by terryhallinan on Wed Oct 25, 2006 at 02:33:28 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Control Of The Senate Still a Longshot (none / 0)

I always hear pundits talk about the "Two Virginia's," the Northern cities near Maryland and the southern more rural areas. For Webb to have a chance hes going to need a MASSIVE turnout from the northern cities.  Whats fustrating is that Allen still has a slight lead after uttering racial slurs.  


by nzubechukwu on Wed Oct 25, 2006 at 02:58:50 PM EST

Re: Control Of The Senate Still a Longshot (none / 0)

Well, Jon Stewart did point out that racial slurs could be a plus or a minus in VA...  ;)


Give to Redistricting Project candidates for Democratic maps 2011-2021! http://www.actblue.com/page/redistrictin gproject
by Sandwich Repairman on Wed Oct 25, 2006 at 03:35:17 PM EST
[ Parent ]


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