Just enough to be able to give one back
Back in September 2006, two months before the mid-term election, I wrote a post and correctly predicted all six Senate seats won by Democrats.
Well, it's 2008 and Democrats are going to gain more Senate seats, but the question is, how many?
The 110th Congress that ends in January sits at 49 Democrats, 49 Republicans and two 'Independents'; the Honorable Bernie Sanders from Vermont and 'Traitor Joe' Liebermann of Connecticut.
Both Sanders and Liebermann caucus with the Democrats which gives them a 51-49 majority. But of course, Traitor Joe's caucusing days with Democrats will soon be coming to a long overdue end when Democrats no longer need him to prevent a 50-50 tie. That asshole is toast.
So, can Democrats pick up 10 Senate seats? I think it's possible. Seven seems more likely, but 10 sure would be sweet.
Let's go with these 10:
1. Virginia - "Two former governors are vying for the chance to succeed John Warner, the distinguished, five-term Republican senator from Virginia. Mark Warner is considered a successful Democratic governor in a southern, Republican state. ...Jim Gilmore was the immediate predecessor of Mark Warner in the governor's mansion and succeeded George Allen."
Sounds like it would be a battle, doesn't it? Not even close - Mark Warner (D-VA) is up by nearly 30 percent. Add this seat to the Democrats' column - Slam Dunk.
2. Colorado - "In January 2007, Wayne Allard (R) became the first senator to announce he would not run for re-election in 2008. The field of candidates to replace him quickly narrowed to Democratic Rep. Mark Udall and former Republican Rep. Bob Schaffer, with both parties able to avoid contested primaries."
Chalk up another Democratic Senate seat -- Mark Udall is up by 12.5%.
3. New Mexico - "Sen. Pete Domenici (R) announced in October 2007 that he would not seek re-election. Now, New Mexico's House delegation will undergo a complete turnover in the 111th Congress, as all three House members gave up their seats to run for Domenici's Senate seat. GOP Reps. Heather Wilson and Steve Pearce duked it out for the Republican nomination, but Pearce narrowly won the June 3 primary, winning 51%-49%. Pearce faces Democratic Rep. Tom Udall in the general election."
Another Udall, another Democratic seat in the Senate -- Tom Udall is up by 16%. Slam dunk Lobos!
4. New Hampshire - "Former Gov. Jeanne Shaheen is challenging Sen. John Sununu (R) in a rematch of their 2002 open seat contest. Sununu's route to the Senate six years ago was no easy one. He took down incumbent Sen. Bob Smith in the GOP primary (though Smith was unpopular), then defeated Shaheen, who was finishing up her third term as governor. At 38 years old, Sununu became the youngest member of the Senate, a title he still holds."
See you later, Sununu, Shaheen's kicking your ass -- up by 9.8%. That's four new Democratic Senate seats.
5. Alaska - "Sen. Ted Stevens has never won re-election with less than 66% of the vote. If he is fortunate enough to win this year, it will likely be with far less than that. ... Stevens faces Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich, a candidate Democrats feel is a credible and competent challenger to Stevens's throne."
Even Alaskans won't re-elect a seven-count convicted felon. Begich takes the mean old bastard's Republican seat and Sarah Palin gets shut-out of Washington D.C. altogether! Begich is up by 10! Another Democratic Senate seat -- You betcha!
6. Oregon - "With low approval ratings at home, Gordon Smith (R) appears to be in serious trouble this year. Though Smith has one of the most moderate records in the Senate, Democrats are poised to snatch this seat. Democrats got their candidate in State House Speaker Jeff Merkley, who faced a bitter and competitive primary against activist Steve Novick. Merkley is in for another tough campaign now, as he takes on a well-funded and seasoned Smith."
Smith, a fairly good, moderate Republican goes down in Oregon. Merkley is up 5%
7. Minnesota - "In the seat once held by Paul Wellstone, Norm Coleman faces a well-financed and well-known candidate. Democrat Al Franken, the former Saturday Night Live writer and actor, has been ramping up to run for a few years now."
Tough, tough fight for my man, Al Franken. Al would be kicking Coleman's ass if it wasn't for 'Independence Party' candidate, Dean Barkley. Coleman leads Franken, 41% - 39%, with Barkley at 14%.
Come on Minnesotans, you're smarter than that! Wellstone's seat needs to be taken back! Al Franken in an upset!
8. North Carolina - " This seat has been in Republican hands for the last 35 years. A strong challenge to Elizabeth Dole (R) could have come from the term-limited Gov. Mike Easley, one of the seven Democratic congressmen, Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue or Treas. Richard Moore. But Easley and the House delegation decided against it, and Perdue and Moore had their eyes set on the governor's mansion. Despite this, Democrats should still mount a competitive campaign with state Sen. Kay Hagan, who easily won the May 6 primary. Hagan, who has shown the ability to fundraise, is the niece of the late Lawton Chiles, a three-term U.S. Senator and two-term Governor of Florida."
Tough fight. Hagan is up by 3.4% but Dole, a low-life, despicable bitch, is making a late run with her 'Godless' commercials. Go with Hagan in an upset.
9. Georgia - "Sen. Saxby Chambliss (Rat) was heavily favored to retain his seat for a second term, though polling late in the campaign has made Chambliss appear more vulnerable than first expected. ... Challenging Chambliss is former state Rep. Jim Martin, who won an August 5 runoff against DeKalb Co. CEO Vernon Jones."
Saxby Chambliss, the shameless, draft-dodging, veteran-hating asshole deserves to go - He was up 4.6% as of Thursday but I'm going with Martin in a big upset down there in the land of 'bitter', redneck wingnuts! You'd think them fucking rednecks wouldn't care too much for a lying, draft-dodging punk named Saxby.
10. Kentucky - "Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell is running for his fifth term in what is usually a GOP-friendly state. All signs should point to him coasting to re-election, but McConnell, though favored to retain his seat, doesn't appear to be counting on returning to Congress just yet. ... In the general, McConnell is being challenged by Bruce Lunsford, a wealthy businessman who twice came up short in the Democratic primary for governor. He defeated a fellow entrepreneur in the Democratic primary, and should be able to at least somewhat self-finance his campaign against McConnell. "
It's time they put Mitch 'Old Kentucky Homo' McConnell out to pasture down there in Kentucky. As of Wednesday, McConnell was hanging onto a 4 point lead but Lunsford was gaining ground. In a HUGE upset, Republicans lose their Minority Leader and Democrats gain another.
Six of these seats turning from Republican to Democrats are solid. Number seven, Franken in Minnesota would be sweet poetic justice. Eight, nine and 10 ... three southern states, North Carolina, Georgia and Kentucky, are big stretches. ...But this year, who knows?
Regardless, whether it's the 'sure' six, or the 10, there will be gains and Traitor Joe will be gone. Bet on it.
