The powerful do look after each other. I am increasingly of the belief that the Senate is bought and paid for. The Senate does not represent the people of the states that elect Senators.
It would make sense to pay for stuffing the ballot boxes of Senators because the Senate has the unique ability to stop any and all legislation on the basis of minority rule. Therefore, power is most economicly bought at the Senate level.
Just look at examples where Senators are democrats in states that vote for a Republican President or Governor. It does not make any sense whatsoever.
Like the state I live in. It comes down to money. The Democrats in the Dakotas run on one issue and one issue only - how much money they bring back from Washington.
'Course if strategy was not an alien concept to the senate leadership they could do something about this.