We need a net gain of at least 11 Senate Seats in November!

We currently have 43 Democrats plus we can usually count on Jeffords, making 44.

However, a handful of DINOs can not be counted on, whatsoever.

I see them as Nelson, Nelson, Landrieu, Lieberman. That's 4.

That leaves us with 40 votes. Maybe less, if you want to throw any other DINOs in there.

Thus, we need a minimum net gain of 11 seats, to affect any meaningful change in the course of this country.

If the Dems are in power,,, he will be very blue... :grr:

With Lamont in place for CT, that whittles it down to 3.

Then again, there's Dianne Feinstein to consider. Back up to 4 again.

You really think Lamont will win? That would be great. I am from CT, and everyone in my family there hates Joe Mo.

The lack of an "Aye" vote from her on the Kerry/Feingold amendment will probably be cited as further evidence.

He votes with the D's as often as the DINO's vote with the R's.

But he's toast anyway. So we can't count on him, either.

At this point, I'd be happy with 50 Dem's, 49 r's and one I.

It's all about who controls the committees. Number one priority is getting control of setting the agenda.

change the DINOs. Sometimes I think Landrieu votes with repigs because she is looking for Katrina funds from them.

I'm not sure we have one now.

He probably doesn't have enough seniority though. :(

The most important thing is to get a majority!!!!

On how many seats can be picked up?

WSJ Battleground States - June 21

Good news? Dems lead in 12 of the 17 tracked races, an increase since the last poll taken in March.

Bad news? Even at this rate, the poll projects Republicans will retain control of the Senate.

If you look close - this does seem doable, though. If you take WSJ latest mix, and we get the 2 considered ties plus pick up Talent's, Kyl's, and Allen's seat (all under 10 point separation) we can do it.

That would be 45 (WSJ latest) plus 2 (now tied) plus 1 (independent) plus 3 (Talent, Allen, and Kyl) = 51 we'd be in business !!!

Everyone pour everything you have in the senate races in MO, AZ, VA, TN amd MN !!!!

... where we really stand a chance!

Keep up the hard work and especially the OPTIMISM!

Here is the latest on the Montana Senate race. That makes a total of 3 we currently stand to pick up, which means have half the 6 seats we need to regain control of the Senate. And with momentum apparently on our side, we are close to picking up seats in Missouri, Tennessee, Virginia, and Rhode Island. Here is the latest polling information on the Rhode Island Senate race.

I'm glad you mentioned these other races. It's easy for the casual observer to look at the WSJ Battleground States Poll and think that it includes all the close races. As you have pointed out, it does not.

Edit: Oboy, and now Arizona is now very close according to the WSJ poll. I hadn't yet taken the WSJ poll into account, and was going by a 5/24/06 Rasmussen poll that showed Kyl (R) ahead of Pederson (D) 52% to 35%, but the WSJ poll shows Kyl's lead has narrowed. Now it's to 48% to 42%. This, together with the great news about the Virginia race, is an example of why I believe the momentum is on our side.

Yes, Harold Ford, Jr. is not the most progressive candidate, but he does share some of the same ideals that we do. And of course, he beats the fundies that the Right-Wing is trumpeting (Van Hilleary and Ed Bryant). Most of the polls I have seen have Ford neck-to-neck with them, so he does stand a legitmate shot.

I can tell you that things are starting to turn sour for the GOP here in even their strongest area (East TN). Most of the people in this area aren't the rabid bible-thumping knuckle draggers like they are generally characterized to be. They are moderate, hard-working people who are mostly fed up with the direction this country is going and have seen the consuequences of GOP rule. A man that I know, who I like to consider a "bell-weather" of conservative politics in East TN, told me that a lot of his friends are voting Dem in Nov just to get Bush under control on spending and "get us the hell out of Iraq". Take that for what its worth, but to me, it says something coming from this person and their politics.

Things are looking up, we just need to push harder!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

All that really matters is control of the committees. Lieberman can vote anyway he wants as long as the right bills come out of committee.

Jeffords is retiring, and Sanders is favored to win that Senate race. And he is much more liberal than Jeffords. So even though it doesn't change the count, Sanders is a much more dependable vote. Jeffords used to be a rethug, even though he now caucuses with the Dems.

That may turn (back) into a Con seat; but she's about as reliable as the Nelson boys.

so if it takes a couple DINOs to achieve that, so be it.

As a supporter and fellow West Virginian, I am looking forward to that possibility with eager anticipation.

to get control of the Senate.