Well, that's what his challenger in the primary said. ;)

But now that I checked out a few things... turns out that the Dem challenger that lost... is running on a 3rd party platform. So forget South Carolina. The idiot that lost is just going to split the vote and removed any chance of beating Graham.

Michale -

You're right, the Franken race was like a microcosm of the presidential nomination race. But we've got five months to get together as a party, both nationally and in Minnesota, and I remain optimistic about both.

BLaws -

I thought about including Collins in Maine, but Mainers (Mainiacs?) I know tell me this is all but impossible. If she wins another term, Maine will be the last holdout for moderate Republicans in all of New England (their other Senator, Olympia Snowe, is also a moderate Republican). We'll see... I'd love to see Maine flip, but still see it as a longshot at this point. The last poll I saw had Collins up 52/42, but her challenger is closing the gap.

Georgia is another possibility, you're right. It's even a possibility in the presidential race, due to Bob Barr, Libertarian candidate, being from Georgia. If he shaves enough of McCain's vote off, Obama could win the state. And even that possibility, you're right, could cause a huge voter turnout swell for the Democrats.

South Carolina? Lindsey Graham too liberal?? Wow. Well, I guess he's against torture, but I'd hardly call him a liberal. But I will keep an eye on this race from now on, thanks.

longtimewatcher -

North Carolina I've heard talked about as well. Hagen seems to be closing the gap with Dole, but the latest poll I have has Dole up 14 points (53/39), but other polls show a much tighter race.

Texas, however, is still a real longshot. I'd put money on Obama winning the state before I'd put money on Cornyn being defeated. He's up 17 points currently (52/35), but I'll keep an eye on it, too, I promise.

-CW

I would rate Dole at very much at risk, and Cornyn seems to be having trouble showing 50% approval.

With exception minority turnout in those two races, they could flip.

Maine - Sen. Susan Collins (R) promised to serve only 2 terms each of her two runs. She's now flipped on that position and is running for a third. The race is being described as competative. Polls are in the high single digits.

Georgia - Vernon Jones (D) is polling 7 points behind incumbant Saxby Chambliss (R) who has a mid 50's approval rating. With a large AA turn out for Obama in Georgia, Jones could pull off an upset.

For the real long shot, I'd watch South Carolina:

Lindsey Graham (R) faces challenger Bob Conley (D). Conley is a Ron Paul Democrat, more conservative than Graham. Conley is a pro-life, observant Catholic. His cultural conservatism and opposition to mass immigration makes him appealing to many traditionally conservative democrats and disillusioned Republicans. He could also benefit from the turn out in the AA community due to Obama. AA's make up 30% of the population of SC, with a record turn out it could make Conley very competative as AA's tend to vote Dem down the ballot.

This race could be similar to the 3 house seats the Repubs already lost, due to the Dem running being a very conservative Dem, while Lindsey has been painted as too Liberal by his primary challenger and others. Being locked at the hip with John McCain isn't helping him either with many in SC.

Should he pull it off it would almost bring as much glee to me as Mitch McConnell getting beat here in Kentucky.

As an aside, though.. I have mentioned about my desire to move the family to Alaska. If, per chance, they could change the designation from the LAST FRONTIER to the FINAL FRONTIER, then I think I would be there!! :D

Anyways...

The Al Franken race is probably not going to go the way you hope. And, ironically enough, it's the same reason why the General Election is probably not going to go the way the Dems hope.

Franken got pretty beat up by his own people... Much like Obama did.

Michale.....

...Stan