Romney (MA gubernatorial)
Sununu (NH senate)
Coleman (MN senate)
Thume (SD senate)
Chambliss (GA senate)
Dole (NC senate)
Allard (CO senate)
Talent (MO senate)
Golisano - 2nd place (NY gubernatorial)
Simon (CA gubernatorial)
Ok, so I'm really going out on a limb with Golisano coming in second (and relegating the 'Rats to third). But I think it can happen! And Golisano coming in second is going to be a real victory for the GOP as the 'Rats will be on the third line of the ballot at the next election.
BTW, on my way to work this morning, the turnout seems heavy here in Massachusetts. A heated gubernatorial race has ignited a lot of excitement around here. I think the gubernatorial stakes are even higher here than in California due to the fact that the socialist/'rats have 85% of the seat in the state house. With socialist Shannon O'Brien as governor, we might as well be a banana republic. Go Mitt! You are our last GOP hope in Massachusetts.
Not as big a limb as you think. There was an article by Fred Dicker in the New York Post a week or so ago about how upstate is "aflame" with Golisano support. The polls are still showing him third, but second place could happen, and it would shake up the system.
Not only would a Golisano second-place finish consign the Dems to the third line on the ballot and make them oficially a "minor" party, but it would deprive them of their posts on the State Board of Elections and some other patronage positions. (The Independence Party, Golisano's party, would get them instead.) That would reduce the opportunities for 'Rat corruption.
For New York FReepers: You have to get 50,000 votes for Governor to maintain "permanent" ballot status for four years. How many of New York's 8 parties (Republican, Democrat, Independence, Conservative, Liberal, Right to Life, Green, Working Families) maintain their ballot line? My guess is 6.