Senate News & Analysis

Even in Wave Elections, Some Races Break the Other Way

by Nathan L. Gonzales October 31, 2010 · 9:00 AM EDT

Republicans who are privately hopeful that the party can beat conventional wisdom on Tuesday and net the 10 seats needed to take the Senate majority might want to talk to Tennessee Sen. Bob Corker.

The first-term Republican isn’t vulnerable; he isn’t even up for re-election for another two…

2010 Senate Overview (October 28, 2010)

October 28, 2010 · 11:45 PM EDT

Republicans are still poised to gain 6-8 seats, though a huge GOP wave could yield one or two more. On the other hand, with a few breaks, Democrats could keep their losses down to 4 or 5 seats, which they’d no doubt argue was a moral victory. Significant Republican…

2010 Senate Overview (October 22, 2010)

October 22, 2010 · 6:00 PM EDT

Reporters like to talk about “surges,” but at this point in the cycle most race changes are small unless some dramatic event causes voters to reassess their assumptions. Democrats seem to have improved their position a bit in Pennsylvania, Kentucky and Wisconsin, but the changes aren’t all that dramatic.…

Memo to Bennet and Conway, Meet Mr. Deeds

by Stuart Rothenberg October 22, 2010 · 11:59 AM EDT

As Christianity and homosexuality exploded as big issues in the Kentucky and Colorado Senate races, I can only think back to a column I wrote for this space only a little more than a year ago (“In Virginia, Culture War Looks Very Much Alive on One Side,” Sept. 24,…

2010 Senate Overview (October 15, 2010)

October 15, 2010 · 4:00 PM EDT

While House Republicans are poised to make huge gains, the Senate is proving to be a tougher climb for the GOP. Democrats currently have only three seats that are definitely lost – North Dakota, Arkansas and Indiana – though a handful of others look either difficult or completely up…

Friend or Foe, U.S. Chamber Plays Both Roles for Democrats

by Nathan L. Gonzales October 12, 2010 · 9:38 AM EDT

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has become a very polarizing group — within the Democratic Party.

While some Democrats this week seized on a study, initiated by the liberal blog Think Progress, that alleged the Chamber of Commerce is using foreign money for its political efforts, others were…

2010 Senate Overview (October 8, 2010)

October 8, 2010 · 4:00 PM EDT

This week, we’re moving the Ohio and Missouri Senate races further toward the GOP, but that change doesn’t alter our overall estimate in the Senate. While there are enough Democratic-held states are “in play” to give the GOP a small chance of netting the 10 seats it needs to…

NFL Asks Feingold to Remove Clip from New Ad

by Nathan L. Gonzales October 5, 2010 · 1:22 PM EDT

Wisconsin Sen. Russ Feingold's (D) new television ad chastises his opponents for dancing in the end zone, but has gotten him into trouble with the National Football League. One clip had then-Minnesota Vikings receiver Randy Moss acting like he was mooning the crowd at Lambeau Field. 

"We did…

Scenario #3: A GOP Tsunami Crashes Over Congress

by Nathan L. Gonzales October 5, 2010 · 9:52 AM EDT

One month before Election Day and this much is clear: Democrats will take a pounding when frustrated (and in some cases unemployed) voters go to the polls. Public opinion polls show a majority of Americans are unhappy with the present course of the country and are impatient for a…

Scenario #2: Democrats Lose House, Cling to Senate

by Nathan L. Gonzales October 5, 2010 · 9:51 AM EDT

One month before Election Day and this much is clear: Democrats will take a pounding when frustrated (and in some cases unemployed) voters go to the polls. Public opinion polls show a majority of Americans are unhappy with the present course of the country and are impatient for a…