Apparently, two men who were widely expected to retire - Republican Senators Ted Stevens of Alaska and Pete Domenici - will run again in 2008...
For a more thorough analysis of our chances in Alaska and New Mexico see below the fold.
ALASKA
Ted Stevens, first elected to the US Senate in 1968 and Alaska's porker in chief, is currently 83 years old and with the GOP now being in the minority was widely expected to retire.
Alaska's only high profile Democrat is former Governor Tony Knowles, but it is highly unlikely he would run again after losing two state-wide elections in a row as this is the equivalent of a political death sentence. Possible Democratic contenders are Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich - son of former Rep. Nick Begich - or State Representative Eric Croft. But as this is Alaska we are speaking about and Stevens is one of the senators for life, if one should consider the democrats chances of gaining an open seat in Alaska to be small, then the chances of beating Stevens himself are nearly nihil.
NEW MEXICO
Pete Domenici, first elected to the US Senate in 1973, running again is something of a surprise as Domenici will be 76 in 2008 and he hasn't been raising much money since last elected in 2002. All this let to speculation that he would retire.
Democratic Attorney General Patricia Madrid and Democratic Congressman Tom Udall may run. Madrid's chanes however have diminished with her very likeley loss to Rep. Wilson - who herself must be sorely dissapointed for not being able to run for Domenici's seat as she was counting on an open seat and a possible senate promotion.
Tom Udall would have a been a prime candidate and a real contender. Question is wether with Domenici running again, he will take the chance of challenging the entrenched incumbent or that he'll just stay in his very safe house seat. Even if Udall decides to run than this will be leaning Republican, if Udall doesn't run than this seat is likely Republican.
Had Domenici retired this seat would have been a prime pickup opportunity for the Democrats... now things become more complicated... Of course 2008 is still two years away so Domenici might still change his mind... but that's not so likely