I doubt we can replace Chaffe and Snowe with Republicans. :-P
Nelson of NE is definitely a candidate for a party switch. Otherwise he could be facing a very tough challenge from Governor Johanns who's going to decide on a run in the next few weeks. That would offset a defection from that panty waist Chafee.
The off-year for Talent is HUGH. He's not quite strong enough, yet for a presidential election year race.
If the rumors are true and some of W's cabinet members retire their replacements could be qualified Senators from states with GOP governors so that governor can replace them with a Pubbie as Senator. Not sure who they could be- anyone know?
Graph these against Bush margin in 2004, and see who is most vulnerable.
Byrd from WV if he doesn't retire would lose
Nelson from FL could be vulnerable
Akaka another who should retire, maybe the Gov could run?
Conraad .. too liberal for ND
Cantwell barely won in '00 and only won because she made a fortune in the internet bubble economy ... don't know how effective she's been
Dayton made a fool of himself by closing his Capitol Hill offices because of fear of an attack
It would be nice to toss out RINO
Olympia Snowe of Maine 69%
By that time Hatch could be on the Supreme Court.
Throw all the dims out.
It would be nice to toss out RINO
Olympia Snowe of Maine 69%
By that time Hatch could be on the Supreme Court.
Throw all the dims out. Wondering if Lieberman might retire?
Maybe Kennedy will retire.
I have a hunch we might see some appointments of rat senators that can be replaced by R governors.
Here is how Jeffords could become vulnerable. Howard Dean or Burlington mayor Peter Clavelle run against Jeffords as Democrats splitting the liberal vote. If a recognizable Republican runs against them then there is a shot. Who that Republican could be I can't say.
I'll throw out some names though. Gov. Douglas (unlikely to run), Lt Gov Dubie (unlikely to be able to win), McMullen (2 time loser), Snelling (name recognition as daughter of former governor but a real RINO).
Well there is talk here of Corzine resigning and runnung for NJ Governor in 2005 so that seat may be open.
While it will stay a Republican seat, Kay Bailey Hutchison of Texas will not run again. She is moving to run against our RINO, hair combing, pretty boy, former dim, low IQ, Governor.
We need at least 61--spector (sp?) doesn't count.
"Can the G.O.P. get to 60?"
Possibly, but not probably. Depends on who retires.
POSSIBLE RETIREES:
Conrad Burns (R-MT)
William Frist (R-TN)
Trent Lott (R-MS)
Richard Lugar (R-IN)
Daniel Akaka (HI)
Robert Byrd (WV)
Diane Feinstein (CA)
Paul Sarbanes (MD)
Edward Kennedy (MA)
SECURE OR LIKELY REELECTS
Mike DeWine (R-OH)
John Ensign (R-NV)
Orrin Hatch (R-UT)
Kay Hutchison (R-TX)
Jon Kyl (R-AZ)
Olympia Snowe (R-ME)
Craig Thomas (R-WY)
Jeff Bingaman (D-NM)
Kent Conrad (D-ND)
Herb Kohl (D-WI)
Joe Leiberman (D-CT)
INCUMBENTS IN POTENTIAL DANGER
George Allen (R-VA): Faces possible challenge from wealthy Governor Mark Warner.
Lincoln Chafee (R-RI): Possible challenges from Lieutenant Governor Charles Fohgerty, state Attorney General Patrick Lynch, & Secretary of State Matt Brown. Primary challenge from Governor Donald Carcieri not out of question.
Jim Talent (R-MO) Narrow winner in '02 special may face newly-elected Rep. Russ Carnahan, whose mother he edged. State Auditor Clare McCaskill another possiblilty.
Maria Cantwell (D-WA) 2,200-vote winner on recount faces possible challenge. If Dino Rossi loses Gov. race, he would be first choice.
Tom Carper (D-DE) Solid winner in '00 is tough to beat, but marital rumors don't help. Ex-Judge William Lee could make a race of it.
Hitlery Rodham Clinton (D-NY) Tough to beat, but not impossible. Rudy Guiliani would start out ahead, Gov. George Pataki would also be tough.
Jon Corzine (D-NJ) Wants to be Gov. If he wins, it's winnable. State Senator William Gormley, near-winner of '00 & '02 Senate primaries, may think 3rd. time is charm. 'Rat field would be wide open.
Mark Dayton (D-MN) A flaky socialite version of the late Paul Wellstone. Rep. Mark Kennedy likely to run.
Bill Nelson (D-FL) Many Republicans eying the race, though Nelson will be no pushover.
Ben Nelson (D-NE) Term-limited Gov. Michael Johans would be favorite if he ran.
Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) Favored to survive, but not secure. Possible opposition unclear.
By the way he is also an idiot. We need a strong republican in Minnesota to defeat him. We can find one.
Bookmarked for frequent study over the next couple of years. It would also be nice to have a comprehensive overview of the state of the House. Now that we have the rats down and demoralized it would be a good idea to kick them repeatedly. Success begets success and failure begets failure. What we have here in northern California is not what you would call a target rich environment, but maybe across the hills in the central valley there is a rat rep or two who are vulnerable.