Republicans Run From Risk in Some Senate Fights

[Khephra]

On paper, Harry Reid looks beatable, not least because he won his last United States Senate race in Nevada by 428 votes. In a recount.

He is a fierce partisan, the No. 2 man in the Senate Democratic leadership, providing Republicans plenty of fodder for their conservative base in a state President Bush won easily in 2000. Mr. Reid has even received some bad press lately about his relatives' lobbying in Washington for Nevada interests.

He seemed a good bet to draw a strong opponent in 2004, as Republicans are looking to pad their majorities in Congress and have Mr. Bush to lead the way. Yet Representative Jim Gibbons, the party's top choice to challenge Mr. Reid, chose to seek re-election to the House, choosing a sure thing over rolling the dice. Mr. Reid, at this point, has little to worry about.

Nevada is not the only state where Republicans are having trouble recruiting strong Senate candidates. In a handful of states where incumbent Democratic senators would seem vulnerable — including the Dakotas, Arkansas and Washington — big-name Republican prospects are bowing out, reducing the party's hopes for big Senate gains.

more...........

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/10/12/weekinreview/12HULS.html

[Noordam]

1. Looks like Whistle-Ass's coat tails are very short

and ppl know all his tax cuts will not be helping the economy.

[Judi Lynn]

2. This is getting interesting

Looking a little more favorable, we can only hope.

From your N.Y. Times article:

(snip) "The big year that Republicans were hoping for seems to have evaporated," said Stuart Rothenberg, a veteran nonpartisan analyst of Congressional races. (snip)

[ReadTomPaine]

3. Best news in while. Dems should go on the attack...

Even if Bush <shudder> wins in '04, if we can take the Senate and improve the House numbers, he'll be toast from all the Dem lead investigations and lack of appropriations for RW legislation.

[izzie]

4. They like the old way, The Eng. lord held his seat and they ran in his nam

I am so glad we got rid of all that, 200 plus years ago.

[PROGRESSIVE1]

5. Next year will be a close election in both the Presidential and.....

the senate! The House looks like it will stay with the Rethugliklans due to Texas redistricting!

The Rethugs popularity is under 50% and the economy shows no signs of creating new jobs, labor wages are down (-40%+ )! The Rethugs should be very, very worried! Most of these Repug congressmen/women have safe seats and they would not be garrenteed a win if they ran for the senate, that is why they are holding back!

The Democrats should be worried about Fritz Hollings retirement and a possible Breaux retirement! The Dem's could pick up Alaska, Pennsylvania, Illinois, and Missouri!

By the way, Nevada voted 49% Bush and 46% Gore, not a landslide and Nevada could be won by the Dem's next year!


:dem:

[ronatchig]

6. I don't agree that

the house will stay thug, I live in N carolina and the thugs around here are in big trouble because of their support for nafta and fast track. If done correctly and funded properly Ballenger, Merick , and Hayes can all be taken out. I assume that most of the thug supporters of these disasters could be made vulnerable throughout the south which in my opinion is where the head of the snake lies.

[TacticalPeek]

8. "the head of the snake"

You're right about where to swing the hoe. Break their Dixie back.

:)

[DemoVet]

7. Every dog has his/her day.....

WOOF!!!!!!!!!!!

[Hawkeye-X]

9. I expect a huge turnover for Republicans

to lose 75% of their seats in both Senate and House, ensuring a strong Democratic majority for a Democratic President, and correcting the wrongs that the Repukkklicans have done in the past 12 years.

That includes revocation of NAFTA, higher punishment for corporate crimes, and zero allowance for off-shore corporate cronies to do business in the United States for more than 20 employees total.

Hawkeye-X