It just continues to get badder for Republicans in the U.S. Senate:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21120728/
No great loss, even in the minds of some Republicans, I'd bet. Recall it was Domenici who tried to influence an ongoing Fed investigation that contributed to the U.S. Attorney scandal, and narrowly avoided a serious ethics complaint by a contrite apology. But that seat is by no means a "safe" one for Republicans; New Mexico, remember, has a prominent Democratic governor (Richardson).
Not to mention that good ol' Ted Stevens, in Alaska, is in deepening doodoo over an amoeba-like bribery/influence peddling scandal that has already sent two legislators to jail, with two more pending Federal felony trials, and Stevens' own son another prominent figure being targeted in investigations. Stevens, 83, has said he intends to run for yet another term in 2008, but that was before his house got raided twice by the FBI. Betting here is he won't run. Now, it is unlikely that Democrats would pick up that seat, given the redness of the overall political atmosphere here, but Stevens is the senior Republican Senator on the planet, and getting him replaced with an inexperienced freshman Republican won't help the party.
Democrats figure to gain seats in the Senate, regardless of the outcome of the Presidential election, just because the cycle of Senatorial vulnerability happens to stack so badly agains Republicans this time around. If a Democrat wins the Presidential vote big, however, they could gain quite a few. As of right now, I'd predict Democrats pick up four Senatorial seats, for a 55-44 (1 independent) margin.
caw
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21120728/
No great loss, even in the minds of some Republicans, I'd bet. Recall it was Domenici who tried to influence an ongoing Fed investigation that contributed to the U.S. Attorney scandal, and narrowly avoided a serious ethics complaint by a contrite apology. But that seat is by no means a "safe" one for Republicans; New Mexico, remember, has a prominent Democratic governor (Richardson).
Not to mention that good ol' Ted Stevens, in Alaska, is in deepening doodoo over an amoeba-like bribery/influence peddling scandal that has already sent two legislators to jail, with two more pending Federal felony trials, and Stevens' own son another prominent figure being targeted in investigations. Stevens, 83, has said he intends to run for yet another term in 2008, but that was before his house got raided twice by the FBI. Betting here is he won't run. Now, it is unlikely that Democrats would pick up that seat, given the redness of the overall political atmosphere here, but Stevens is the senior Republican Senator on the planet, and getting him replaced with an inexperienced freshman Republican won't help the party.
Democrats figure to gain seats in the Senate, regardless of the outcome of the Presidential election, just because the cycle of Senatorial vulnerability happens to stack so badly agains Republicans this time around. If a Democrat wins the Presidential vote big, however, they could gain quite a few. As of right now, I'd predict Democrats pick up four Senatorial seats, for a 55-44 (1 independent) margin.
caw
