Senate News & Analysis

Friend or Foe, U.S. Chamber Plays Both Roles for Democrats

by Nathan L. Gonzales October 12, 2010 · 9:38 AM EDT

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has become a very polarizing group — within the Democratic Party.

While some Democrats this week seized on a study, initiated by the liberal blog Think Progress, that alleged the Chamber of Commerce is using foreign money for its political efforts, others were…

2010 Senate Overview (October 8, 2010)

October 8, 2010 · 4:00 PM EDT

This week, we’re moving the Ohio and Missouri Senate races further toward the GOP, but that change doesn’t alter our overall estimate in the Senate. While there are enough Democratic-held states are “in play” to give the GOP a small chance of netting the 10 seats it needs to…

NFL Asks Feingold to Remove Clip from New Ad

by Nathan L. Gonzales October 5, 2010 · 1:22 PM EDT

Wisconsin Sen. Russ Feingold's (D) new television ad chastises his opponents for dancing in the end zone, but has gotten him into trouble with the National Football League. One clip had then-Minnesota Vikings receiver Randy Moss acting like he was mooning the crowd at Lambeau Field. 

"We did…

Scenario #3: A GOP Tsunami Crashes Over Congress

by Nathan L. Gonzales October 5, 2010 · 9:52 AM EDT

One month before Election Day and this much is clear: Democrats will take a pounding when frustrated (and in some cases unemployed) voters go to the polls. Public opinion polls show a majority of Americans are unhappy with the present course of the country and are impatient for a…

Scenario #2: Democrats Lose House, Cling to Senate

by Nathan L. Gonzales October 5, 2010 · 9:51 AM EDT

One month before Election Day and this much is clear: Democrats will take a pounding when frustrated (and in some cases unemployed) voters go to the polls. Public opinion polls show a majority of Americans are unhappy with the present course of the country and are impatient for a…

Scenario #1: Base Turns Out Late, Saves Democrats

by Nathan L. Gonzales October 5, 2010 · 9:50 AM EDT

One month before Election Day and this much is clear: Democrats will take a pounding when frustrated (and in some cases unemployed) voters go to the polls. Public opinion polls show a majority of Americans are unhappy with the present course of the country and are impatient for a…

2010 Senate Overview (October 1, 2010)

October 1, 2010 · 4:35 PM EDT

With recent polls showing the California race slipping away from the GOP, Republicans likely need to win two out of three competitive Senate contests -- Washington, Connecticut, and West Virginia -- to have a chance at netting ten seats and a majority in the next Senate. That’s not impossible,…

For Democrats, Senate Still a Possible Nightmare

by Stuart Rothenberg October 1, 2010 · 9:21 AM EDT

Delaware’s Republican primary may well have lulled Democrats into a sense of complacency about their ability to hold the Senate after November’s elections. They would be wise to wake up if they want to avoid a nasty surprise on election night.

Tea party activists did indeed do Democrats…

DSCC Buying Time in Connecticut Senate Race

by Stuart Rothenberg September 30, 2010 · 1:14 PM EDT

With polls showing the race tightening and Democratic Senate nominee Richard Blumenthal slipping to or under the 50% mark in his contest against Linda McMahon (R), the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee is buying time in Connecticut, according to a reliable political source.

Democrats once hoped that Attorney General…

Parties’ Opposition Research Efforts Fuel Late Ads

by Nathan L. Gonzales September 30, 2010 · 9:00 AM EDT

As voters are being bombarded with political attack ads in the lead-up to November, few likely realize that what appears as a fine-print citation in a 30-second television commercial is the result of months of opposition research and an orchestrated communication effort by parties and candidates.

In a…