I know talking about the presidential race is fun, but there’s still plenty to consider in the way of Senate campaigns.
For a while, it looked like it would be a very long, and very unsuccessful, year for the Dems in terms of the Senate. Five key Southern Dem incumbents announced their retirements and the party could only identify one likely seat the Dems could take from the GOP (Illinois).
But all hope is not lost. I saw a few encouraging details this morning in two important races.
In South Carolina, Fritz Hollings (D) is retiring, offering the GOP a key opportunity to win a seat that’s been in Democratic hands pretty much forever. After all, South Carolina is about as strong a Republican state as there is in the nation. Nevertheless, the Dems are backing Inez Tenenbaum, South Carolina’s Superintendent of Public Schools, and the only Dem to win a statewide race in SC in 2002. Today, Columbia’s The State reported that Tenenbaum has raised far more money than any of her Republican rivals, collecting $537,659 in the last quarter, about $117,000 more than the leading Republican, Rep. Jim DeMint, who raised $420,619.
The DSCC reported that Tenenbaum is one of only three Democratic Senate challengers to out-raise a sitting member of Congress, and considering South Carolina’s political make-up, that’s a very impressive feat.
“[Tenenbaum’s] appeal stretches across party lines and extends to voters from all walks of life,” said Tenenbaum campaign manager Carol Butler.
And in Alaska, another traditionally Republican state, former Gov. Tony Knowles (D) is in the lead in state polls against incumbent Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R).
Murkowski was not actually elected to the Senate, instead getting her seat when her father, Gov. Frank Murkowski (R) appointed her to the post when he left the Senate to assume the governorship [insert joke about nepotism here]. A poll released this week shows Knowles with a narrow lead over Murkowski, 45% to 41%.
It’s probably too early to seriously start counting seats, but these results are encouraging. If the Dems can successfully pick up GOP seats in Alaska, Illinois, and Oklahoma, while holding onto seats in states such as Florida, North Carolina, and Louisiana, getting to 51 doesn’t sound completely ridiculous.