The GOP has had nearly 5 years to vet and promote a strong candidate for this seat which should be vulnerable. If the GOP were truly interested in becoming the majority party, the RNC would have targeted Franken from day one and he would be sweating today.
This is shaping up to be a replay of Florida in 2012. Nelson was a weak incumbent who was vulnerable. The Republican establishment put up Connie Mack who thought he would win because his father had been the Senator prior to Nelson. Mack ran a pathetic campaign and Nelson coasted to victory. The same thing may happen in 2012 in North Carolina where Kay Hagen should be vulnerable but where is the strong Republican candidate.
Majority parties are aggressive in going after potentially beatable incumbents. Minority parties put up whoever is next in line and are satisfied whether they win or lose.
Mack (That is Cornelius McGillicuddy IV) is a hopeless drunkard with a violent twist and a demonstrable idiot. (He actually drools.) Of course Nelson beat him. My Irish Setter could have beaten him.