The Dems got swept into office over a scandal among Republicans that mostly amounted to one corrupt guy that had contributed a lot to Republicans, and the Republican governor accepting some very small gifts he shouldn't have.
Well, that's at least the Democrat's argument for them taking office. The Republicans were disgusted with their candidates because they were a bunch of RINOs that kept raising the tax burden, and Taft was anti-gun, while Strickland is not.
However, if the Democrats show themselves to be just as corrupt or worse than the Republicans, their gains are likely to be short lived. Many got elected simply because Republicans were sick of their own candidates, not because they had strong, widespread support.
Until recently I considered myself a staunch Republican. I grew up during the Reagan years and listened to Limbaugh. I don't identify with the corrupt bunch we have now. Oh sure there's a few good ones like Behner and well, i'm having a tough time thinking of others. Maybe Demint. The rest seem to be sell outs to power grabs, earmarks and generally enriching themselves and not trying to limit government in the citizens lives. I'll still vote for McCain and Senator Gordon Smith, and never for a Dem, but I'm not a party guy anymore.