So how do we stand in terms of picking up senate/congressional seats?

[wickerwoman]

Sorry if this has been posted before or done to death. I'm just interested in what our expert analysts think about the chances of taking over the senate and/or house of reps to ice the sweet, sweet cake of a Kerry victory.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. View from Arkansas

I'm not an expert by any means, but I believe that Blanche Lincoln, the incumbant Democrat, will easily win. She's got a petition going called "A Soldier's Bill of Rights" that will have broad appeal across the state. In the Third Congressional District (the only one that has been Republican since the 60s), Jan Judy is giving the incumbant a run for his money. Since in the past the Dems haven't even run a candidate against him, I think this is a vast improvement. Jan has pointed out that Boozman has voted against veteran's rights, which has got to hurt. Like Lincoln, she's sticking to issues of interst to Arkansans. I think she really has a chance. There are many disaffected Republicans in the area who want Bush out and who realize that Boozman is very much like Bush (another point Judy makes in her campaign literature), and are working to vote him out of office as well.

[Racenut20]

2. It looks to me like Arkansas candidates are running

away from the National ticket, and to Arkansas. Probably the only strategy that will work. Maybe they have enough coat tails to carry the National ticket with them. Keep up the good work

[DaveSZ]

3. This is what Dems in GOP areas should do

They should run on local issues, and they can win that way like Herseth and Chandler did.

It makes sense to focus on representing your district.

[Frodo]

4. Slim, but improved.

I wouldn't have believed it a couple months ago, but there's a shot at the Senate (but not the House absent a landslide).

The most likely result is still neutral to -1 in the Senate (just too many Southern seats to defend), but things could break our way.