Senate Republicans, after coming up short two elections in a row, are again optimistic they can win the seats needed to recapture the majority in next year's midterm elections.
As in 2012, the map of competitive races tilts heavily in the GOP's favor, with Democrats again defending more competitive seats than the GOP. Democratic retirements also have boosted Republican prospects in states that already were up for grabs.
 |
Red-state Democrats being targeted in next year's
Senate races include Mark Pryor of Arkansas.
|
Republicans have an early edge in three states where senior Democrats are calling it quits: Montana, South Dakota and West Virginia. The party also is targeting Democrats in four states President Barack Obama lost last year: Alaska, Arkansas, Louisiana and North Carolina.
Meanwhile, the only GOP-held seats expected to face a credible Democratic challenge are in Georgia and Kentucky, both of which now tend to vote Republican. GOP candidates may also be able to challenge in other states that now look out of reach, such as Iowa or Michigan, where veteran Democrats are retiring.
 |
Senator Mary Landrieu of Louisiana is also among
red-state Democrats being targeted in next year's races.
|
"You have to say the Senate is broadly in play," said Stuart Rothenberg, editor of the nonpartisan Rothenberg Political Report, which tracks races at the state and federal level. "Most of the takeover opportunities are Republican opportunities to take over Democratic seats."
The 2014 elections are still more than a year away, and the GOP has been in a similar position of strength in recent elections. Senate Republicans were widely expected to reclaim their majority last year, only to surrender two additional seats, partly a result of contentious primaries that elevated activist-backed candidates, like Todd Akin in Missouri, who struggled in the general election.
"Republicans have not missed an opportunity to miss an opportunity," said Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet, chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. "The most striking disparity between Republicans and Democrats is that Democrats are united by a candidate in each of these states, while Republicans are not."Read the rest HERE.
If you like what you see, please "Like" us on Facebook either here or here.
Please follow us on Twitter here.
Please follow us on Twitter here.
7 comments:
My word, talk about people that never learn. Wasn't it a case of 'more chance in taking the senate in '12 EVEN than Romney winning the presidency?'
lol, and what occurred?
Tag on losing house seats too.
My oh my.
Your disdain for Republicans isn't refreshing, but PROOF you're not a conservative.
Almost everyday, we learn yet another thing Romney was right on. Maybe we need to start listening to him, rather than fighting against him? We can take back the senate. But ONLY if we don't do stupid, like we tend to do all too often.
Division within our own party is one of greatest weaknesses.
Republicans have been united in my experience. I believe what is happening to our party is infiltration. Remember the troublesome germans in the battle of the bulge who ran around in american uniforms creating havoc? Time to SEE what is plain and in your face.
Yes, during the Battle of the Bulge in World War II, the German Army sent English speaking German soldiers to confuse our men and to try to kill as many leaders of ours as they could.
If you were caught behind enemy lines, you had no protection of the Geneva Convention, and could be shot on sight without a trial.
Post a Comment