That's incorrect. Of the 33 odd Senate races this year, the Dems are defending 17 or more while the GOP is defending 15 or so.
And some of those Dem seats are in Red States.
Thus, the GOP stands to gain +2 Senate seats this year.
Posted on 01/23/2006 7:45:02 PM PST by Aussie Dasher
WASHINGTON — Republicans say open races in states where a Democrat is retiring offer them the best chance to increase their Senate majority.
Sen. Elizabeth Dole, R-N.C., head of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, offered an upbeat perspective on the 2006 races Monday. The GOP holds a 55-44 advantage in the chamber, with one Democratic-leaning independent.
Dole cited Minnesota, where the party has a single candidate, Rep. Mark Kennedy, running against a number of Democrats hoping to replace retiring Democratic Sen. Mark Dayton. The same is true in Maryland, where the GOP is backing Lt. Gov. Michael Steele, while several Democrats battle for the nomination. Five-term Sen. Paul Sarbanes is retiring.
Phil Singer, a spokesman for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, dismissed Dole's assessment, arguing that polls show Democrats prevailing in Minnesota and Maryland. "More to the point, Maryland is a solidly blue state," Singer said.
Dole brushed aside questions about several problems dogging the GOP. She said:
—She was certain moderate Republican Sen. Lincoln Chafee would turn aside a conservative challenger in the Republican primary in Rhode Island.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
It's worth it provided 50 of them are not RINO's.
"She was certain Lincoln Chafee could turn aside a conservative in the Republican primary..."
THAT dear, Sen. Dole, it the PROBLEM....not the solution!
Agreed, but will there be 50 real Republicans?
Yes, it frickin' is.
Olympia Snowe might be a flaming liberal on some issues, but she still voted to make Bill Frist Senate Majority Leader. Joe Lieberman might be a rock-ribbed conservative on some issues, but he still voted to make Harry Reid Senate Majority Leader. The party that holds the majority holds the majority on every committee. It sets the agenda. To a very large extent, a Congressman's party affiliation matters more than his personal views. The flabbiest RINO is better than the most conservative Democrat, if the majority is at stake.
Having said that, Dole is dreaming if she thinks the GOP will pick up seats this time around. I'm sure she doesn't; it's her job to predict victory even if she's pretty sure she won't get it. The GOP has several more vulnerable seats than the Democrats, and Republicans had a dismal recruiting season (thanks a whole lot, Hoeven, Johanns, and Osborne), and I'd be quite surprised if the GOP managed to lose only two seats.
Pick up a cuple more and watch the liberal trash self destruct in toto.
Once the Democrats are voted into extinction, the Republican Party will have no one to blame. It's a win-win situation for all of us.
That's incorrect. Of the 33 odd Senate races this year, the Dems are defending 17 or more while the GOP is defending 15 or so.
And some of those Dem seats are in Red States.
Thus, the GOP stands to gain +2 Senate seats this year.
No, I also believe that the GOP majority will increase, and I'm not carrying the flag.
The Dems are acting so stupidly of late that they are ensuring a good turnout and support for the Gop.
In addition our fundraising is over double that of crazy Dean.
We will do very well.
Republicans have actually improved their prospects over the past couple of months. But it still looks dicey.
A republican named "Kennedy?"
Pull my finger, Ted.
If the GOP continues to sit on the sidelines while pelosi and reid make press releases all day they just might find themelves the new minority party! It scares the hell out of me, but I have not heard much out of the GOP lately and when they do speak it is to try and expalin a negative press release from the dims.
If the GOP could take, MD, MN and NJ, that would be huge. Rinos that vote for cloture can vote whatever way they want on nominations.
As someone else said on this thead, as long as 50 or 51 are conservative, we are fine. Now it would be nice to pick up a red state conservative or two like Harris anything that gets us closer to filibuster proof is fine with me.
I wish you people who bash a RINO like Chafee would realize that he is the best we possibly hope to get in a deeply blue state like Rhode Island. A true conservative that beats Chafee in the primary gets trounced in the general election. Why is this so hard to to understand?
You can count the conservative Republicans in the Senate on one hand with four fingers to spare. They are almost all RINOs. There is one fellow from Oklahoma who is a real conservative.
Considering the Democrats are forced to defend more seats than the Republicans, in states that trend conservative, with possible pickups in the faces of Steele and kennedy in "blue" states...I would say while it IS her job to act positive she isn't dreaming to predict a possible pickup. Given recent history, Republicans should be set to fall. Yet they are looking at least at status quo and possible one or two pickups.
I'm not a fan of the U.S. Senate by any means, particularly lately. And had they performed better, I think it not beyond reach to be looking at a 3-5 seat pickup. But even as disenchanted as I am, and the complete lack of respect I have for Senator Dole's efforts of recruitment I still predict at least status quo.
Though, it IS possible a few Governor seats could fall. Particularly in New York.
What about Brownback?
I agree but dont hold much hope for my NJ. Election fraud was invented here. Unfortunately, the votes North of the Driscoll Bridge cancel out the sane votes South of the bridge.
Yes, that particular comment just endeared Senator Dole to me even more. {sarcasm}
Chafee is the very definition of a RINO. The type of character that term was born to define. Collins? Snowe? Specter? Okay, whatever, I cringe but I let slide on most occasions. But CHAFEE? The man who said he would pencil in G.W.B's father in 2004? That loser deserves to be booted out. I would like to THINK even Liberal Republicans in Northeast would be disgusted with him. They do dislike "conservative" influence in the party, particularly social conservatives, but they DO view themselves as loyal Republicans. How they can tolerate a guy that isn't even that? Vote Laffey!
Jeff Sessions
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