One Out Of Two Ain’t Bad, But GOP Going For Sweep

While most pundits predict that Democrats will lose their majority in the House this fall, a new National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) memo out today shows the GOP poised to make substantial gains in the Senate, as well.

Citing recent polling data that suggests Republican voters are considerably more enthusiastic than Democrats about voting in the upcoming midterm elections, the memo predicts that Democrats could lose as many as eight seats in the upper chamber.

Republicans need a ten seat gain to win back control of the Senate.

“The political environment clearly favors Republicans more heavily today than it did Democrats in 2006 and 2008,” says NRSC Executive Director Rob Jesmer. “Independent voters prefer Republican candidates by a double-digit margin; Republican voters are 20 percent more enthusiastic about voting than Democrats; our candidates and the NRSC have a significant cash advantage.”

The latest RealClearPolitics average shows Republicans winning six seats in the Senate, with five more up for grabs. The new data reveals good news for some so-called ‘Tea Party’ candidates.

In Colorado, Ken Buck has widened his lead over Democratic incumbent Michael Bennet, while in Wisconsin, Ron Johnson has taken command of his race against longtime Senator Russ Feingold (D). In Pennsylvania, conservative Pat Toomey has opened up a six-point lead against current U.S. Rep Joe Sestak (D), and in West Virginia, Democratic Governor Joe Manchin, considered until now to be a shoe-in to replace the late Sen. Robert Byrd (D), finds himself trailing businessman John Raese (R) by a nearly two-point margin.

However, in Delaware, Democrat Chris Coons appears to have taken an overwhelming 53-37% lead against his Tea Party-backed challenger, Christine O’Donnell (R).