“IN, MO, MT, ND, WV, FL, OH, WI, VA are the easy opportunities?”
Nothing is ever easy :-) ... they’ll be “straightforward pickups” if Trump does a good job during the first half of his term :-).
Trump is an outstanding executive and makes effective use of the bully pulpit. All he needs to do is deliver and communicate. He needs to start with the “more straightforward” topics on his agenda and execute (Obamacare is a great place to start :-) ). He will do that so long as he doesn’t get distracted by all of the political nonsense that occurs in DC.
If he does in fact focus and deliver on an appreciable percentage of his “first 100 days”, the Dems will be facing a loss in the first 5 seats listed. There are a few others in swing states (like the mentioned FL, OH, VA, WI, and PA) that could flip too.
However, that’s all speculation. No need to get ahead of one’s self :-). I’m sure Trump will have someone at least exploring potential US Senate candidates as some of his proposals are going to require a filibuster-proof majority there. Before we go and get all giddy about 2018, Trump MUST deliver on a few items before we can start to write the Dem’s Senate death sentence :-).
Still, it’s fun to dream in the meantime :-)
Obama won big twice. But his popularity did not rub off on others. The same could happen with Trump. When he is not on the ballot, there is no reason to believe his popularity will rub off on others.
Just look at the divisiveness here on FR. Split over Ted Cruz when that shoould not happen as Trump and Cruz are both on the same side on draining the swamp... and on most issues.
Same with the divisiveness in other states. It makes us look very juvenile.