Obviously we are all focused on the upcoming midterm elections, as well we should be. I just want to make a point about the 2008 Senate elections. On the surface, it looks really good for the Dems because they will only have to defend 12 seats, while the GOP will have to defend 21 seats. Here’s the list:
1. Alexander, Lamar- (R – TN)
2. Allard, Wayne- (R – CO)
3. Chambliss, Saxby- (R – GA)
4. Cochran, Thad- (R – MS)
5. Coleman, Norm- (R – MN)
6. Collins, Susan M.- (R – ME)
7. Cornyn, John- (R – TX)
8. Craig, Larry E.- (R – ID)
9. Dole, Elizabeth- (R – NC)
10. Domenici, Pete V.- (R – NM)
11. Enzi, Michael B.- (R – WY)
12. Graham, Lindsey- (R – SC)
13. Hagel, Chuck- (R – NE)
14. Inhofe, James M.- (R – OK)
15. McConnell, Mitch- (R – KY)
16. Roberts, Pat- (R – KS)
17. Sessions, Jeff- (R – AL)
18. Smith, Gordon H.- (R – OR)
19. Stevens, Ted- (R – AK)
20. Sununu, John E.- (R – NH)
21. Warner, John- (R – VA)
1. Baucus, Max- (D – MT)
2. Biden, Joseph R., Jr.- (D – DE)
3. Durbin, Richard- (D – IL)
4. Harkin, Tom- (D – IA)
5. Johnson, Tim- (D – SD)
6. Kerry, John F.- (D – MA)
7. Landrieu, Mary L.- (D – LA)
8. Lautenberg, Frank R.- (D – NJ)
9. Levin, Carl- (D – MI)
10. Pryor, Mark L.- (D – AR)
11. Reed, Jack- (D – RI)
12. Rockefeller, John D., IV- (D – WV)
Looking at the Democrats I’d like to remind you that Frank Lautenberg was born January 23, 1924. In 2008, he will be 86 years old. Other than Lautenberg we will have to defend seats in the red states of Montana, South Dakota, Iowa, Louisiana, Arkansas, and West Virginia.
Looking at the Republicans, there are a lot of seats but how many of them come from blue states? Only four: Minnesota, Maine, Oregon, and New Hampshire.
Our prospects for picking up seats will depend on our ability to field candidates in red states that can appeal to their cultures. And that is a real danger. Because, we will find the Senate looking forward to the ’08 elections very soon after the ’07 session begins. So, how do we deal with electoral reality? What’s the strategy?
