Edgar (most popular "R" governor in IL) didn't take on Durbin (or Moseley-Braun for that matter) this year & Racicot (most popular "R" governor in MT) didn't take on Baucus. In every case, the incumbant 'RAT would probably be losing (or, at best, in a dead heat) if they had to face the most popular Republican in the state.
It's just ain't easy to get multi-term governors to throw their hat back in the political ring when they want to take a breather after 10+ years holding statewide office. The best the GOP got this year was when they talked John Thune into running a cut-throat against Tim Johnson INSTEAD of an "easy" run for Governor. I think that's really the only example we have of recruiting the most popular elected Republican to run against an incumbant 'RAT Senator.
Anyway, we got to work with what we got. Badboyavich is actually ahead of Jim Ryan by double digits here (for Gov.) and Durbin is far ahead of Durkin (although Durbin IS polling below 50% of the vote when the 3rd party guys aren't even on the radar). I believe the numbers are simular in Michigan with Granholm and Levin. Get behind the nominees and work hard to change the tide. If we do not watch our backs, it will be a Dem sweep in the great lakes and a couple other midwestern and western states.
And personally, this is not Michigan's year to elect a Republican to the U.S. Senate. The opportunity was to defeat Stabenow in 2000 and it didn't happen (okay, Abraham has mostly himself to blame for that). But there should be no reason to lose any more ground to the Dems. Keep the offices that are already Republican and Levin can be ousted in 2008 when he'll be considered too old for the job.
BTW, the reporter writing this article is named Durbin. Is that eerie or what? ;-)