You considering VA part of the south? The articles about Landrieu’s defeat were talking about the “deep” south. Florida isn’t considered part of that region either I guess.
Re: Mark Warner, that one was tough. If he had lost the Republicans would be up to 55. But I didn’t even think they would get to 54.
If the GOP had invested more time and resources - Warner would be gone.
He and fellow Democrat Tim Kaine are popular ex-governors.