I figured I would try to make an actual productive post for No. 3000.
What are people's thoughts on the 2006 senate elections? From the little research I've done, I see that there are four open seats (no incumbent): Minnesota, Vermont, Tennessee and Maryland.
TN- Frist's seat. Is there any chance the Dems pick this up? My first impression would be no, but I am not around there. It seems that Harold Ford Jr. is the frontrunner for the Dem nomination. I don't know much about those pursuing the the Rep nomination.
VT- Looks like the Dems won't run anyone, instead endorsing the independent candidate Bernie Sanders to replace the independent Jeffords, who is retiring. Judging the by polls so far, Sanders should win in a walk.
MD- Retiring Democrat senator. Polls indicate this could be a tight race as results appear to be very inconsistent. Michael Steele, Lt. Gov, looks to be a lock for the Rep spot. Plenty of players up for the Dem spot.
MN- Interesting state, and one I am much more familiar with than the rest of the states. First-termer Mark Dayton won't seek re-election. Minnesota has been blue forever in the presidential elections, but the senators are split (although if Paul Wellstone hadn't died in that plane crash, it would likely be a two-democrat state). IMO, the democrats are vulnerable here. They'll get the M/SP votes and lose the suburbs, and as always will win the Iron Range voters. Hennipen County attorney Amy Klobuchar should get the Dem nod over Ford Bell, especially with Patty Wetterling out of the race (that secured the DFL endorsement; very big for democrats in that state). Likely opponent will be Mark Kennedy, a congressmen that represents a district of the northern suburbs of the Twin Cities.
Those will obviously be interesting races. What about vulnerable incumbents?
Florida should be interesting. Dem Bill Nelson could face Katherine "2000 election" Harris. If she's on the ballot, every democratic-leaning person in the state will come out in droves to vote. Interesting to see if the Reps come up with someone else to challenge her.
Nevada- Looks like former mob lawyer and wildly-popular Vegas mayor Oscar Goodman is gonna take a shot at the senate seat against incumbent John Ensign. If Goodman doesn't run, it'll be Jack Carter, Jimmy's son. I would think Goodman is a much bigger threat to Ensign than Carter would be.
Others? Conrad Burns in Montana? Robert Menendez in New Jersey?
I know it's still several months away, but I thought I would put this out there.
What are people's thoughts on the 2006 senate elections? From the little research I've done, I see that there are four open seats (no incumbent): Minnesota, Vermont, Tennessee and Maryland.
TN- Frist's seat. Is there any chance the Dems pick this up? My first impression would be no, but I am not around there. It seems that Harold Ford Jr. is the frontrunner for the Dem nomination. I don't know much about those pursuing the the Rep nomination.
VT- Looks like the Dems won't run anyone, instead endorsing the independent candidate Bernie Sanders to replace the independent Jeffords, who is retiring. Judging the by polls so far, Sanders should win in a walk.
MD- Retiring Democrat senator. Polls indicate this could be a tight race as results appear to be very inconsistent. Michael Steele, Lt. Gov, looks to be a lock for the Rep spot. Plenty of players up for the Dem spot.
MN- Interesting state, and one I am much more familiar with than the rest of the states. First-termer Mark Dayton won't seek re-election. Minnesota has been blue forever in the presidential elections, but the senators are split (although if Paul Wellstone hadn't died in that plane crash, it would likely be a two-democrat state). IMO, the democrats are vulnerable here. They'll get the M/SP votes and lose the suburbs, and as always will win the Iron Range voters. Hennipen County attorney Amy Klobuchar should get the Dem nod over Ford Bell, especially with Patty Wetterling out of the race (that secured the DFL endorsement; very big for democrats in that state). Likely opponent will be Mark Kennedy, a congressmen that represents a district of the northern suburbs of the Twin Cities.
Those will obviously be interesting races. What about vulnerable incumbents?
Florida should be interesting. Dem Bill Nelson could face Katherine "2000 election" Harris. If she's on the ballot, every democratic-leaning person in the state will come out in droves to vote. Interesting to see if the Reps come up with someone else to challenge her.
Nevada- Looks like former mob lawyer and wildly-popular Vegas mayor Oscar Goodman is gonna take a shot at the senate seat against incumbent John Ensign. If Goodman doesn't run, it'll be Jack Carter, Jimmy's son. I would think Goodman is a much bigger threat to Ensign than Carter would be.
Others? Conrad Burns in Montana? Robert Menendez in New Jersey?
I know it's still several months away, but I thought I would put this out there.
