In any given election year, there are 33 or 34 seats up for re-election in the United States Senate. This year of amazing possibilities and public discontent there are 35. It should be 33, but Trent Lott of Mississippi (R) quit to avoid a new law and be able to earn millions of dollars as a lobbist; and Senator Thompson of Wyoming (R) died weeks after being re-elected.
Given the recent history in both states, and this present quagmire that the Republican Party has placed our nation in (can you say $5.00 a gallon gasoline?); it seems likely that the two open seats in both states will be split between the two parties.
Net Gain 2.
There are also 5 open seats: VA, NM, CO, NE & ID. I predict that 4 of these will go Democratic.
Net Gain 4.
Of the remaining seats, 8 of them are also vulnerable: and I will predict that 6 of those will go to the Democrats.
Net Gain 6 seats.
On the Democratic side there are 2 vulnerable seats, but given the over all climate, I can only generously predict that 1 of them may flip.
Net Loss 1 seat.
Final tally:
+ 12 + ( - 1 ) = 11 pick-ups.
Add that to 48 uncontested and safe seats and you get 59 Democratic senators. 59 + a faithful Independent from VT = 60. 60 is the magic number. The number that makes D-I J. Leiberman of CT utterly irrelevant. This is the year that that could happen. Let us all pray that it be so!
No comments:
Post a Comment