TIME: In Final Days, Parties Dream of Senate Upsets in Arizona, Michigan [View All]

[DeepModem Mom]

Campaign '06: In Final Days, Parties Dream of Senate Upsets
While confident Democrats brag about an expanding playing field, the panicked G.O.P. places last-minute bets on states where they hope an anti-Republican wave turns out to be anti-incumbent
By MIKE ALLEN/WASHINGTON
Thursday, Nov. 02, 2006

Democrats and Republicans have each picked a state where they're hoping for a November Surprise and have begun pouring buzzer-beating money into Senate contests that have not been on anyone's toss-up list.

For Democrats, the hope for an upset is Arizona, where incumbent Sen. Jon Kyl (R), has looked safe from the Democratic challenger, shopping mall developer Jim Pederson.

For Republicans, the long shot is Michigan, where the National Republican Senatorial Committee is throwing a $900,000 lifeline to Mike Bouchard, a sheriff challenging Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D).

In Arizona, Kyl would only lose in a national typhoon. But Democrats are acting confident and Sen. Charles Schumer of New York, chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, is touting an "expanding Senate playing field." Pederson, the Democrat, has mounted an attack focusing on Iraq and special interests. The conservative Kyl has focused on "Arizona accomplishments" and expertise on terrorism.

In Michigan, Stabenow has led handily in polls and fundraising. Bouchard, with the slogan "Results for a Change," began running the nationally financed ads yesterday, and reaches out to younger voters tonight by appearing with Kid Rock. Democrats say it's too late, and that Stabenow has used her cash advantage to build a lead and define Bouchard....

http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1553811,00.html?cnn=yes