One
article from the latest issue of The American Prospect talks about the Senate races for 2006. I agree with the idea that it would be hard to take back the majority, but making gains is certainly not out of the question.
The first step, of course, is to hold all of the seats we currently hold that are up for re-election. These include Cantwell in Washington, the Nelsons of Florida and Nebraska, and Dayton in Minnesota. How likely is it that we hold all of those seats? And who is likely to be the challenger for each of them?
And then we have to decide which ones to go after. I'd like to have competitive races in all states, but being realistic, I realize there's only so much time and money. Let's start with the Northeast/Middle Atlantic region. As the TAP article says, Senator Man-on-Dog...er, Santorum may be the most vulnerable out of Chafee, himself, and Snowe, and I agree with that completely. How likely is it that we can peel off a few seats and which ones are they? And who will be the Democrat running?
On a somewhat specific note, the TAP piece mentions Pennsylvania Treasurer Barbara Hafer taking on Santorum. I remember he from the DNC convention this summer. She used to be a Republican but endorsed Rendell and then switched parties. She's also, if I remember correctly, THK's friend.