Jon Ponder | Dec. 18, 2006
Bob Geiger has put together this list of U.S. Senate candidates up for reelection in 2008. My very early handicapping is on the right:
|
Democrats (12)
|
Handicap
|
|
Max Baucus (D-MT)
|
Vulnerable:Isn’t Baucus retiring? If so, a Republican could take it.
|
|
Joseph Biden (D-DE)
|
Safe Dem: Even if Biden drops out to campaign for president full time.
|
|
Richard Durbin (D-IL)
|
Safe Dem.
|
|
Tom Harkin (D-IA)
|
Safe Dem.
|
|
Tim Johnson (D-SD)
|
Vulnerable: Unless the senator makes a full recovery.
|
|
John Kerry (D-MA)
|
Safe Dem. Kerry won’t give up his seat even if he runs for president again.
|
|
Mary Landrieu (D-LA)
|
Vulnerable: As Bob Geiger pointed out, Landrieu’s base may have been expatriated from Louisiana by Katrina.
|
|
Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ)
|
Vulnerable: Because Jersey was so weird this year. (Lautenberg might retire again.)
|
|
Carl Levin (D-MI)
|
Safe Dem.
|
|
Mark Pryor (D-AR)
|
Vulnerable:It’s Arkansas.
|
|
Jack Reed (D-RI)
|
Safe Dem.
|
|
Jay Rockefeller (D-WV)
|
Safe Dem.
|
Safe Dems: 7 – Vulnerable: 5
|
Republicans (21)
|
Handicap
|
|
Lamar Alexander (R-TN)
|
Vulnerable: He just is.
|
|
Wayne Allard (R-CO)
|
Vulnerable: He’s a rank ideologue and Colorado is in play for Dems.
|
|
Saxby Chambliss (R-GA)
|
Safe GOP.
|
|
Thad Cochran (R-MS)
|
Safe GOP.
|
|
Norm Coleman (R-MN)
|
Vulnerable: Al Franken could take him out, as could any decent candidate.
|
|
Susan Collins (R-ME)
|
Safe GOP.
|
|
John Cornyn (R-TX)
|
Safe GOP: It’s Texas.
|
|
Larry Craig (R-ID)
|
Safe GOP: Despite gay rumors.
|
|
Elizabeth Dole (R-NC)
|
Safe GOP: John Edwards should run against Liddy, but he is running for President of Never Gonna Happen instead.
|
|
Pete Domenici (R-NM)
|
Safe GOP.
|
|
Michael Enzi (R-WY)
|
Safe: Admittedly, Enzi is a cipher to me, but it’s Wyoming.
|
|
Lindsey Graham (R-SC)
|
Safe GOP: Even if Graham becomes McCain’s running mate.
|
|
Chuck Hagel (R-NE)
|
Safe: Even if Hagel runs for president.
|
|
James Inhofe (R-OK)
|
Safe GOP: And more’s the pity.
|
|
Mitch McConnell (R-KY)
|
Safe GOP.
|
|
Pat Roberts (R-KS)
|
Safe GOP.
|
|
Jeff Sessions (R-AL)
|
Safe GOP.
|
|
Gordon Smith (R-OR)
|
Vulnerable: Smith’s come-to-Jesus on the war was a smart move.
|
|
Ted Stevens (R-AK)
|
Safe GOP.
|
|
John Sununu (R-NH)
|
Vulnerable: It’s New Hampshire, and John Jr. won by a sliver last time.
|
|
John Warner (R-VA)
|
Safe GOP: Even though Warner will be 80 in February.
|
Safe GOP: 15 – Vulnerable: 6
