US midterm elections: the 10 key races to watch

The Guardian ^ | Oct 25, 2014 | Tom McCarthy

[Innovative]

Haven’t been following the US midterm elections closely? Here’s a roundup of the most notable – and notorious – races.

KENTUCKY SENATE

Running Incumbent Mitch McConnell (Republican) v Alison Lundergan Grimes (Democrat)

Snapshot There is no single candidate Democrats would love to knock off more than McConnell, their Senate nemesis, who is so close to becoming majority leader he can smell it. And if any Democrat can crack Kentucky, it may be Grimes, a 35-year-old rock-star secretary of state.

Polling An average of projections has McConnell winning by 4 points.

KANSAS SENATE

Running Incumbent Pat Roberts (R) v Greg Orman (Independent)

Snapshot Last month the Democrats took the unusual move of suing to remove their candidate’s name from the ballot. That’s because they saw that the independent entry, Orman, had the only real shot at beating Roberts, 78, who has squatted in Congress for 34 years.

Polling Even. The average gap separating the candidates is less than one point.

[Innovative]

In many of these key races the margin is very small -- turnout will be critical -- as well as conservatives focusing on the prize: achieve a Republican Senate or let Obama run unconstrained for the rest of his term. This is what is at stake.

[Jim Robinson]

Too bad the RINO GOP-e declared war on the tea party and conservatism.

[gaijin]

SCREW THE GOP.

[RS_Rider]

I’m only paying attention to Kentucky, hoping the gobbler gets axed!

[SMGFan]

Election year could drag on into December for LA Senate runoff & January GA runoff.. Nothing easy.
http://fivethirtyeight.com/datalab/senate-update-theres-a-70-percent-chance-georgia-will-go-to-a-runoff/

[Innovative]

In my opinion, we need to take things a step at a time, rather than leave the Dems in control.

First, let’s capture the Senate, keep the House and have sufficient majorities to have power — then in subsequent elections, pick off the liberals one at a time in places where there is a chance to get a conservative elected — which will result in a more conservative Congress.

With the current very small margin between the Dem and Republican candidates, conservatives could swing the election to the Democrats by not voting or voting for third party. This will just encourage Obama and the Democrats to continue their goal of destroying the country unopposed.

[Jim Robinson]

Hey, the backstabbing aisle-crossers declared war on us! Screw ‘em.

[Arm_Bears]

There is no single candidate Democrats would love to knock off more than McConnell . . .

Can't imagine why--McConnell rolls over if a DIM says "Boo!"

[Repeal The 17th]

Polls Close
7:00pm EST
Georgia
Indiana
Kentucky
South Carolina
South Carolina
Vermont
Virginia

7:30pm EST
North Carolina
Ohio
West Virginia

8:00pm EST
Alabama
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida
Illinois
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Mississippi
Missouri
New Hampshire
New Jersey
Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
Tennessee
Texas

8:30pm EST
Arkansas

9:00pm EST
Arizona
Colorado
Kansas
Louisiana
Michigan
Minnesota
Nebraska
New Mexico
New York
South Dakota
Wisconsin
Wyoming

10:00pm EST
Iowa
Montana
Nevada
Oregon
Utah

11:00pm EST
California
Hawaii
Idaho
North Dakota
Washington

12:00am EST
American Samoa

1:00am EST
Alaska

[Jim Noble]

I’m all in for Scott Brown, and I actually think he can win.

However, Obama does not play the game by the rules, and 51-55 GOP Senators will not stop him from what he is going to do.

So, vote your conscience with a clear conscience, and keep your powder dry.

[neocon1984]

You and Jim (who I have financially supported) seeem happy to have Harry Reid running the Senate.

My support will go to defeating socialists. As bad as the Republicans are (as a Libertarian), there is no need to cut off your nose to spite your face.

Democrats will win as long as they can divide the opposition. Enjoy! That is what you seem to be looking for.

[wmfights]

First, let’s capture the Senate, keep the House and have sufficient majorities to have power — then in subsequent elections, pick off the liberals one at a time in places where there is a chance to get a conservative elected — which will result in a more conservative Congress.

The problem is the GOPe are anti-conservative. They don't want freedom, limited govt., and free markets. They just want power and claim they will manage the govt better. They made this clear when they decided the most motivated part of their base, the Tea Party, was the enemy.

I'll vote for conservatives. I'll donate to conservatives. I'll work for conservatives.

I'll stay home for the GOPe.

[Fai Mao]

“In my opinion, we need to take things a step at a time, rather than leave the Dems in control.”

A rare voice of reason.

No matter how “liberal” some Republicans are they are better than the democrats just because they have not bought into the whole baby killing, woman hating, racist, old folks murdering, f****t f**king ideology of the demonrats. The demonrats are, I honestly believe the moral and ideological equivalents of the NAZI party. Liberal republicans are the loyal opposition. If you don’t have a true conservative in the Senate race then vote for the RINO. Challenge the RINO in the primary.

[Terry L Smith]

I have to thank the author of the piece, to completely ignore, forget, bypass, overlook, the U.S. senate race in Louisiana between the $300M hoo-er blond from dah chawklit ci-tee, Hurricane Katrina/Obamacare Mary Landrieu, (daughter of a dynasty), and her competitors, Cassidy, and Maness.

Thank you, author ...
NOT!

[VerySadAmerican]

Amen!

[Din Maker]

First, let’s capture the Senate, keep the House.....then in subsequent elections, pick off the liberals one at a time
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Oh yeah! How well has that worked for you for the past 15 years? Even during the G. W. Bush years when we had the White House, the Senate and the House (all full of RINOs) what happened? Not a damn thing for our team. We’re still killing little babies, marrying homosexuals to each other, running up a debt our great, great grandkids won’t be able to pay off, being over-run from our neighbors to the south, more people on Welfare and Food Stamps than ever before, a Foreign Policy that sucks......

Let me ask again.... How well has that worked for you in the past 15 years. Liberal Democrat... Liberal Republican.... they’re both LIBERALS!!!

[ronnie raygun]

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/dems-on-fec-move-to-regulate-internet-campaigns-blogs-drudge/article/2555270#!
The rat ravel wants to move to control the internet sites like drudge during the campaign

[Din Maker]

Please see Post #16.

[Jim Robinson]

Probably got the idea from McCain.

[bjcoop]

NH swings wildly in elections like this. I think people are overlooking Scott Brown’s chances.