The GOP's Sunny Senate Prospects

The Washington Post ^ | 11/24/02 | George Will

[IMRight]

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Jeffords's defection from the Republican Party in May 2001 gave the Democrats control of the Senate. "He gets a supporting actor award, at the very least," Bainwol says, because Democratic control allowed the 2002 campaign to be about Democratic obstructionism rather than the economy.

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If Suzanne Haik Terrell defeats Mary Landrieu, the Democratic incumbent, in Louisiana's Dec. 7 runoff, Republicans will have 52 seats. And Republican ascendancy will, Bainwol thinks, accelerate in 2004. Then Democrats will be defending 19 seats, Republicans only 15 -- and the political geography will heavily favor the Republicans.

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eight of the 19 seats Democrats will be defending are in Bush country

[IMRight]

Excerpt, please see the link (or maybe someone can find Will's piece elsewhere?

Question... When does this category change to "Campaign 2004"? Are we living in the past? :)

[WFTR]

It should remain campaign 2002 at least until after the runoff in Louisiana. Louisiana also has a governor's race next year. Other states might have some important races also, so a "Campaign 2003" would be appropriate as well.

WFTR
Bill

[Common Tator]

The most important fact of the 2002 election is that for the first time since 1932 the Repubicans have a majority of the state legislature members in the USA.

For a party to be long term dominate it must have a large farm team. A large number of city council members and County commissioners who go on to become state legislators and state senators is the secret of success.

From that group of talent the men and women to run for federal congressional and senatoral races emerge. With lots of state legislature members there is a lot of talent to chose from. The more you have the better the choices the party has for national races. With out a Republican farm team, in many states rookies have to try to run against skilled seasoned Democratic candidates for the federal senate and house. It puts them at a real disadvantage. But the advantage is swinging to the Republicans for the first time in 70 years.

It was seasoned members of the Republican minor leagues that stepped up the the plate for the Pubies this year. It was the Democrats who had to use the over the hill gang. What the 2002 election showed is we have a lot of new talent coming up. While the over the hill gang is just dying not to run. The democrats have a long term propblem. WE used to ... We don't any more.