Shaken senators start prep for 2012

Politico ^ | 19 Nov 2010 | Manu Raju

[Vigilanteman]

The 2010 campaign has so rattled senators up for reelection in 2012 that they’re already moving quickly to figure out how to survive.

Veteran Democrats such as Kent Conrad of North Dakota and Jeff Bingaman of New Mexico are weighing retirement. Establishment Republicans such as Orrin Hatch of Utah and Dick Lugar of Indiana are already moving to fend off potential primaries from the right. Freshmen like Bob Casey of Pennsylvania and Jon Tester of Montana are stepping up fundraising, and red-state Democrats like Claire McCaskill of Missouri are talking up their independence from the party.

Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1110/45320.html#ixzz15lQqVY6V

[Vigilanteman]

Interesting read all the way through. It sounds like Tester, Casey, McCaskill and Lugar are definitely running for re-election. Conrad is leaning toward retirement. And Orrin Hatch is whistling past the graveyard.

[tired&retired]

Bob Casey of Pennsylvania..... May he enjoy his retirement!!!

[Deo volente]

It looks just as good for 2014...twenty Democrats up for reelection, only 13 Republicans.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Senate_elections,_2014

[JTHomes]

I think even respectable republican politicians have a limited shelf life. Hatch for example says and sponsors things 180 degrees from positions he took in the 90’s, pointing him due left too often. Washington seems to corrupt them all eventually. I think we need to get back to state legislatures deciding on who to send to the senate and 8 year limits for the House.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Lugar has overstayed.

[AFreeBird]

That RINO Dick Lugar has got to go!

[Jacquerie]

I know of one rat senator who is very happy that Marco Rubio was elected this year.

Bill Nelson, the smarmy one.

[bassmaner]

I think we need to get back to state legislatures deciding on who to send to the senate

Amen ... repeal the 17th Amendment!

[Czar]

And longtime RINO Hatch.

[SC_Pete]

ALL RATS AND RINOS MUST BE PURGED!!

[AFreeBird]

Word!

[TJC]

Why?

[Eric in the Ozarks]

And Claire McCackle should never have been elected.

[Sir Napsalot]

Not only that, we can safely predict McCain will be back to his old ways of being the darling of the press, while his girl friend Lindsey Graham will move right.

[trappedincanuckistan]

The Tea Party is like a bright light shining down on Washington. Watch the roaches scurry.

[day10]

As an Indiana resident I heartily agree. I think he has gone senile.

[erikm88]

I told McCaskill's office Wednesday, that I would talk to everyone I know and present them with a list of her freedom-killing votes and that I would press this issue until 2012.

Furthermore, I said that I would be talking to my neighbors about her cloture vote on the Food Safety Modernization Act--all of my neighbors grow a substantial amount of their food.

I told them we will remember this in 2012, and that I will do my darnedest to make sure she was voted out of office. The staffer sounded pretty scared, and with a small voice "I'll relay your concerns to the Senator.."

Dunno about other Missourians, but I'm pissed...

[who knows what evil?]

Washington seems to corrupt them all eventually.

One of the reasons we need term limits...

[Oldpuppymax]

The behavior of the republican controlled house will have an enormous impact on the 2012 election. If republicans FORCE the left to defend its programs by voting the proper things out of the house, senate democrats will be stuck between a rock and the Hussein White House. Of course, the Orrin Hatch’s of the world will simply play at being “conservatives”, just as Juan McCain did and DOES for several months every 6 years. But I doubt such phony behavior will work for Nelson and his “moderate” dem, sell-out buddies.

[Windflier]

...while his girl friend Lindsey Graham will move right.

Lindsey's going to become a Democrat?