[Redbob]

"The last time a Senate leader of either party went down to defeat in his home state was in 1952,..."

While this is true, strictly speaking, there should at least be an asterisk to indicate that, in '94 neophyte politician Dr. Bill Frist defeated fellow Tennessean Sen. Jim Sasser, who would have become the Senate Majority Leader if elected - and if the Dims had managed to maintain their majority!

[JohnnyZ]

in '94 neophyte politician Dr. Bill Frist defeated fellow Tennessean Sen. Jim Sasser

and defeated him HANDILY -- destroyed him; that was an impressive win for Frist -- he's often underestimated when it comes to his (probable) Prez run in 2008.