[nospinzone]

Here's my two cents:

Pennsylvania: If Toomey wins the primary, I'd peg him as a slight favorite to win the seat. He's won election three times to Congress in a district that went for Gore and I believe he could replicate his appeal statewide. Plus Pennsylvania is hardly hostile to Republicans, with 2 GOP senators and 12 out of 19 GOP congressmen.

Nevada: Yes Gibbons is not going to run. No he is not the only Republican in Nevada capable of running. Until we hear from Heller or Krolicki there is no reason to slam the door shut on this race.

South Dakota: Thune may run, he is probably just keeping a low profile to cool the jets after the Johnson race. If he runs we have a race, and he may well win.

Louisiana: Breaux seems to be leaning toward retirement, but until he makes it offical this seat stays Dem. If he does retire this seat will be in play but will be the most difficult of the southern seats to capture after NC, SC, FL, and GA.

Oklahoma: I sense this will be a close contest. Humphreys will probably be taken across the finish line provided he runs a good campaign and doesn't make too many mistakes.

Alaska: I wonder how much of a pickup this seat actually is. All of the talk about this race has quieted in the past few weeks. Perhaps the anger over the Lisa Murkowski appointment seems to have cooled.

Wisconsin: I still think we will have a race out of this.

Arkansas: Unfortunately, I can't say the same here. A shallow Republican bench killed the chance for a pickup here.

North Dakota: This one's dead in the water, too.

Washington: Nethercutt will give Murray a run for her money and if Bush wins in a landslide, he'll ride in to victory with him.

California: Depends on the candidate. I think we'll get a good race out of this state too.

Illinois: I hope spintreebob is right about this one, because Illinois has turned frighteningly Democrat over the past few years.

[Galactic Overlord-In-Chief]

Hey, it's been a months. I'm willing to modify my original predictions.

Pennsylvania: If Toomey wins the primary, I'd peg him as a slight favorite to win the seat. He's won election three times to Congress in a district that went for Gore and I believe he could replicate his appeal statewide. Plus Pennsylvania is hardly hostile to Republicans, with 2 GOP senators and 12 out of 19 GOP congressmen.

Still believe it.

Nevada: Yes Gibbons is not going to run. No he is not the only Republican in Nevada capable of running. Until we hear from Heller or Krolicki there is no reason to slam the door shut on this race.

Well, since then Krolicki has taken himself out of the race, leaving it to Heller and Woodcock. Unfortunately the GOP is taking way too long to settle on a candidate and is in serious danger of throwing this winnable race away altogether.

South Dakota: Thune may run, he is probably just keeping a low profile to cool the jets after the Johnson race. If he runs we have a race, and he may well win.

Hallejuah! Thune decided to run after all! If the recent polls are any indication, Daschle is extremely vulnerable.

Louisiana: Breaux seems to be leaning toward retirement, but until he makes it offical this seat stays Dem. If he does retire this seat will be in play but will be the most difficult of the southern seats to capture after NC, SC, FL, and GA.

Breaux did decide to retire, so the seat is in play. Given recent GOP defeats in Louisiana however, winning this seat is far from a sure thing.

Oklahoma: I sense this will be a close contest. Humphreys will probably be taken across the finish line provided he runs a good campaign and doesn't make too many mistakes.

Former Rep. Tom Coburn is weighing a decision to run for the seat. If he does, we keep it no sweat. If he stays out, it'll be a horse race.

Alaska: I wonder how much of a pickup this seat actually is. All of the talk about this race has quieted in the past few weeks. Perhaps the anger over the Lisa Murkowski appointment seems to have cooled.

Indeed, this race has gone awfully quiet. I have no idea which way it's leaning.

Wisconsin: I still think we will have a race out of this.

It's looking more and more like we will. The GOP candidates are raising a lot of money and Feingold is a polarizing figure. If it's close come election day, Bush's coattails could sweep in our nominee.

Arkansas: Unfortunately, I can't say the same here. A shallow Republican bench killed the chance for a pickup here.

Yep, this race is as dead as a doornail.

North Dakota: This one's dead in the water, too.

Still is.

Washington: Nethercutt will give Murray a run for her money and if Bush wins in a landslide, he'll ride in to victory with him.

Nethercutt strikes me as a smart guy. He seems to know what it'll take to win. Like Wisconsin, I think this can be won if it's close and the country breaks Bush's way.

California: Depends on the candidate. I think we'll get a good race out of this state too.

Um...I'm afraid I don't have a lot of confidence in that statement. Senator Boxer is a wolverine. She'll tear any opponent to pieces.

Illinois: I hope spintreebob is right about this one, because Illinois has turned frighteningly Democrat over the past few years.

News on this race have proven to be quite favorable considering this seat seemed ready to slip out of our hands. It seems to be a tossup now anyway, if it's a Jack Ryan/Blair Hull race.

As of now, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida and Louisiana are very good opportunities for pickups. In addition, South Dakota, Washington and Wisconsin look like good chances to knock off incumbent Dems. Unfortunately, California and Nevada seem to be slipping out of reach.