Bonilla will make a great senator, but I'm a little worried about his approach to spending. He voted for the Medicare prescription drug act.
So? So did Hutchison. So did John Cornyn. I don't see that as a negative in Texas politics.
Loss - John Corzine of New Jersey – Backlash Alert! The backlash against McGAYvey will break the democratic political machine in Jersey. Corzine will be the first victim.
Corzine has all but proclaimed by skywriting that he intends to run for Governor in 2005. As such, there are a good dozen Democrats who will move to take his seat, if Corzine wins the off year special election for NJ governor, he gets to pick his replacement for the vacant Senate seat. BUT, Corzine has made no moves to make himself a longterm "kingmaker" in NJ, he has too much money and didn't rise up through the NJ Democrat machinery. Can't be bought, doesn't owe favors.
The Republicans have a short bench here, it's too early to call anyone as a possible 2006 Senate primary candidate.
Loss - Mark Dayton of Minnesota – The already-vulnerable Dayton is now a laughingstock after fleeing D.C. last month due to concern over terrorism. The Minneapolis Star-Tribune, no bastion of conservative thought, called Dayton "Cassandra," a "flake" and a "little chicken." Up-and-coming Conservative Rep. Mark Kennedy has been foaming at the mouth to take out Dayton since his friend Norm Coleman won a senate seat two years ago.
The Minnesota Republican party just got slapped down in their marginal districts this election. Check the state House and Sentate results. They need to regroup. Until the next election, it's not possible to say if Minnesota took a pause in the movement to Republican voting patterns, or that 2002 was the high point of Minnesota Republicans vote totals.
OH PLEASE!!!-Giuliani will get slapped silly by hill if he runs- which he won't b/c his eye is on 1600 pennsylvania avenue-especially after bernie "i didn't know i had to pay taxes" kerik- and pataki is a little gil agianst her in this blue state- In Ca- ahnuld syndrome has certainly gotten to you- this is a blue state in which incoming sec. state condi won't be running- In maryland- have you been asleep?- total blue state- HELLO- the rs could field god and he would loose- Cantwell is safe in this blue state and jeb has explicitly said he will not seek the seat- nelsons a sure bet- looks like we only loose 3 and gain +2!