Democrats Are in a Perilous Position in 2014 Senate Races

FiveThirtyEight ^ | 07/15/2014 | Harry Enten

[Buckeye McFrog]

translation: Look for the Democrats to fire up something really desperate and stupid as their Hail Mary Pass.

A proposal to forgive all student debt and the claim that Republicans plan to make chastity belts mandatory for all women 13-49 seem likely IMO.

[BlackElk]

Define “us” as used in “push US over the top.”

[BlackElk]

One way of another, how will we be able to tell the difference between a Demonrat controlled Senate and a Ruling Class GOP-E controlled Senate? I suspect that the few differences are that elitist “Republicans” have better manners than Harry Reid (not a high mountain to climb nor a visible anthill) and care much more about the fate of Muffie’s trust fund. Maybe, watercress “sandwiches” will be served in the Senate Dining Room promptly at 4 PM each afternoon-—but no TEA.

[Seattle Conservative]

I tend to agree with you. While we have RINOs, it makes a difference in more than one way if the Pubbies gain a majority. First, at least some of the bills passed by the House will be put up for a vote in the Senate - Dingy Harry is blocking them all now. Second, Ginsberg and possibly another SCOTUS will retire.

And, the one not many mention is that there are going to be a lot more R Senators (22) up for election in 2016 than D Senators (10) (not including the 3 special elections - Hawaii, SC and OK). Here’s the list:

DEMOCRATS

Michael Bennet (Colorado)
Richard Blumenthal (Connecticut)
Barbara Boxer (California)
Patrick Leahy (Vermont)
Joe Manchin (West Virginia)
Barbara Mikulski (Maryland)
Patty Murray (Washington)
Harry Reid (Nevada)
Charles Schumer (New York)
Ron Wyden (Oregon)

REPUBLICANS

Kelly Ayotte (New Hampshire)
Roy Blunt (Missouri)
John Boozman (Arkansas)
Richard Burr (North Carolina)
Dan Coats (Indiana)
Tom Coburn (Oklahoma) – Retiring in 2014. Seat TBD in 2014 special election.
Mike Crapo (Idaho)
Chuck Grassley (Iowa)
John Hoeven (North Dakota)
Johnny Isakson (Georgia)
Ron Johnson (Wisconsin)
Mark Kirk (Illinois)
Mike Lee (Utah)
John McCain (Arizona)
Jerry Moran (Kansas)
Lisa Murkowski (Alaska)
Rand Paul (Kentucky)
Rob Portman (Ohio)
Marco Rubio (Florida)
Richard Shelby (Alabama)
John Thune (South Dakota)
Pat Toomey (Pennsylvania)
David Vitter (Louisiana)

Hawaii, Oklahoma and South Carolina each have one Senate seat TBD in 2014 Special Election. Winner of 2014 special election will be up for re-election in 2016.

http://www.periodicalpress.senate.gov/reelection-2016/