What's happening in the Senate races?
Posted: Tue Sep 18, 2012 6:18 pm
Just a few short months ago, Republicans were licking their chops at the prospect of re-taking control of the Senate. Several Democratic senators announced their retirement in states that seemed ripe for the picking, a couple more Dems looked to have a hard time in hanging on to their seats, and none of the sitting Republican senators up for re-election seemed particularly vulnerable. But the latest polling shows quite a different picture. While the Republicans appear set to pick up seats in Nebraska and North Dakota, the Dems are holding a slight lead in Montana and Wisconsin, and Claire McCaskill is running away with the race in Missouri due to Todd Akin's stupid rape comments that have almost the entire Republican Party disowning him.
Even if one or more of these races turns around, the Republicans still have to contend with hanging on to seats they currently have. Independent Angus King will win the seat Olympia Snowe gave up in Maine, and regardless of his coyness, will be conferencing with the Democrats. Scott Brown is behind in Massachusetts, as is Tea Party favourite Richard Mourdock in Indiana (a seat that Dick Lugar would have won in a walk). Nor can they be completely confident of hanging on to seats in Nevada, Arizona, and Tennessee.
So from an almost assured takeover, the Republicans will now have to consider it a victory if they can maintain the number of seats they currently hold. And even if they do gain a few more, if the Democrats manage to hold on to the Senate 51-49 or 50-50 (because the VP will break ties), the Tea Partiers will have the satisfaction of knowing that they managed, once again, to keep control of the Senate out of Republican hands.
"Snatching defeat from the jaws of victory" should become the new Tea Party slogan.
Even if one or more of these races turns around, the Republicans still have to contend with hanging on to seats they currently have. Independent Angus King will win the seat Olympia Snowe gave up in Maine, and regardless of his coyness, will be conferencing with the Democrats. Scott Brown is behind in Massachusetts, as is Tea Party favourite Richard Mourdock in Indiana (a seat that Dick Lugar would have won in a walk). Nor can they be completely confident of hanging on to seats in Nevada, Arizona, and Tennessee.
So from an almost assured takeover, the Republicans will now have to consider it a victory if they can maintain the number of seats they currently hold. And even if they do gain a few more, if the Democrats manage to hold on to the Senate 51-49 or 50-50 (because the VP will break ties), the Tea Partiers will have the satisfaction of knowing that they managed, once again, to keep control of the Senate out of Republican hands.
"Snatching defeat from the jaws of victory" should become the new Tea Party slogan.
