Dems see chance to retake Senate; charge lobbyists for access

Senate Democrats are offering lobbyists new access to Senate Democratic leaders and lawmakers in exchange for personalcontributions of $25,000, the maximum amount allowed to national party fundraising committees.

Democrats are energized by a spate of unforeseen Republican retirements that have dramatically reshaped their prospects of regaining control of the Senate this November.

The Democrats’ Senate prospects looked bleak during the early part of the election cycle with the announced retirements of five Democratic senators from Southern states that President Bush carried in 2000.

However, things began to change with the unexpected announced retirement of Sen. Don Nickles (R-Okla.) and the emergence of Rep. Brad Carson (D-Okla.) as a strong candidate in that state. Democrats gained more momentum with the surprise announced retirement of Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell (R-Colo.), which has given Democrats a chance to pick up a seat in a state in which they previously had little hope.

http://www.thehill.com/news/042904/leader.aspx