Please put some names, and IDEAS to these State races for the US Senate. Let us know who and why we at FR should support.
For me, it is still very early in the process. If the economy continues bad, all the state I show as Leans Republican should shift to the Republican column, and the question will be how of the states now thought to be toss-up will flip toward us and, therefore, how large will be the Republican majority. If any strength starts to gather for economic recovery, we might not pick up any of the toss-ups, and winning three seats and control of the Senate will come down to winning the states I show as Leans Republican, with a pick-up in North Dakota off-setting a loss in Massachusetts. Plus, this early in the process, you’d also be interested in seeing who will secure the Republican nomination, including in some stakes, like Arizona, where we’re thinking we’re going to win in the general, but would like the right person, from our perspective to win the GOP nomination.
ND— probably Rick Berg (solid conservative)
NE— John Bruning or Don Stenberg (Bruning has run a bad campaign already though)
MT— Denny Rehberg (solidly Conservative but voted against Ryan plan in House)
MO— Sarah Steelman or Todd Akin (both very conservative)
VA— George Allen (solidly conservative)
Some of the other races (2nd tier ones) don’t really have well defined candidates yet.