I can tell you though that Mitch McConnell will not make these mistakes in 2008.
Look at what McConnell achieved last night. After Kentucky's GOP governor got mired in a hiring scandal and his approval ratings fell to the floor, Democrats thought they could exploit it and pick up as many as three House seats. They only got one, barely, in a district that was already Democrat-majority. McConnell helped keep Anne Northup in the House for four terms, much longer than anyone expected. She apparently also ignored McConnell's advice and went positive at the end of her campaign, which may have killed her. Democrats brought the popular Ken Lucas out of retirement in the 4th District, but Geoff Davis trounced him. Ron Lewis also kicked ass in the 2d. Kentucky remains a GOP stronghold, while Democrats made gains in every surrounding state. This should give Republicans some comfort as McConnell takes the reins in the Senate.
It is not quite true that the Alito nomination was not an issue in New jersey. I got a pro-Kean computer telephone call on this point. However, I think that the pitch was wrong. It said "You as an Italian-American should be especially interested..."
I am intereseted, but I am not an Italian-American. I don't even have an Italian last name. I have a Pennsylvania-German surname, but am of nicely mixed ethnic background. I still strongly favored Alito's nomination, but why pitch it to me as an ethnic issue?