Some counterexamples:
Tell that to Chaffee and Foley.
Then talk to Kyl and Talent.
Ergo, it was an anti-Republican mood for two reasons:
1) Rahm Emmanuel ran a bunch of *conservative* democrats, including that evangelical Christian pro-life guy in NC.
2) The Dems nationalized the election into a referendum upon the war in Iraq.
Truth is, Bush 43 followed in his father's footsteps and failed to campaign or to support his party in any meaningful way.
He believed his own echo chamber and Rove, who relied on robo-phoning instead of grass roots.
Good points!
And the blue collar guy (what's left)- sits down and watches the 6:30 news every night bashing the President and the Republican "scandal machine' ..that didn't help.
Lots of those guys voted Reagan in the 80s...
19% Precincts Reporting
Jon Tester Democrat 55,807 (56%)
Conrad Burns (i) Republican 42,071 (42%)
Stan Jones Libertarian 2,149 (2%