I keep seeing these kinds of predictions and I wonder why we measure success in this way?
This isn't the House or Senate we're talking about here. The gross number doesn't mean all that much.... it's WHICH states we win/lose that matters.
PA will hurt. TX would hurt ALOT (though I doubt it's in too much danger) since it hurts Bush and the party (and keeps us from picking up 3-4 seats in TX in 2004 from redistricting)
On the other hand, If we win CA I won't mind a 5 seat net loss because that's nationally a big win. If we take CA AND MD without losing TX or NY it's actually a good year for republicans.
Perhaps it's the soft bigotry of low expectations. :) A month ago, it looked like the GOP was going to lose 8-10 states. That's the only reason I'm measuring "success" in that way. Obviously, losing PA will hurt. But every state counts, even if it's not obvious. As another poster pointed out to me about HI - that state has two VERY old Dem Senators. I'd sure like for the GOP to hold the state-house for the next 4 years there, just in case.