Politics
Democrats’ fi libuster-proof majority. have a record of standing up for
Republicans are defending 18 regular Missourians or a record of
of the 35 Senate seats up in 2010, standing up for the lobbyists and
including at least six open seats cre- special interests,” Carnahan said
ated by GOP retirements. Both par- recently. “I’m not particularly sur-
ties have recruited strong candidates prised Republicans are following a
to run in four of those open seats — guy who’s been in the leadership for
the battleground states of Missouri, 10 years in Washington, D.C. and got
Ohio, New Hampshire, and Florida. us in the mess we’re in right now.”
And Democratic bids for two other Carnahan’s talking points come
GOP-held seats, in Louisiana and straight from the Democrats’ play-
Kentucky, could be competitive. Even book.
more troubling for Republicans: Of “We know that we have our work
the 12 GOP senators seeking re-elec- cut out for us. [But] I am relieved
tion, six narrowly won in 2004. every time Republicans wash their
Meanwhile, none of the 17 hands of any responsibility toward
Senate Democrats up next year has getting our economy back on track,”
announced plans to retire, and every Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., chair-
Democrat who won in 2004 did so man of the Democratic Senatorial
with relative ease. Campaign Committee, said. “It is
Still, Republicans are confi dent this strategy that explains why the
they can defeat Dodd and, quite pos- country is in such an economic mess
sibly, Arkansas Sen. in the fi rst place.
Blanche Lincoln. “Republicans are betting against
They’re also bull- the president, the Congress, and the
ish on picking up economy. They want failure.”
“
One thing we Obama’s old Senate
have going for
seat in Illinois, where
us, frankly, is
Democrats are still R
epublican leaders acknowledge
that their political strategy this
reeling from the year has focused primarily on block-
that we’re out
Blagojevich scandal. ing Democratic bills, not offering
of power.
’’
One of the top their own policy solutions. But, they
2010 Senate contests say, they have had little choice, given
is already under way the small numbers of seats they cur-
in the bellwether rently occupy. And, they add, that
state of Missouri, strategy just might work.
where Sen. Kit Bond “We’ve been labeled as the ‘party
is retiring and early of no,’” Cornyn said.
polls show Democratic Secretary of “[But] ironically, this could actually
FACING FACTS If Obama’s State Robin Carnahan, the daugh- benefi t us as the elections approach
numbers continue
ter of the late Democratic Gov. Mel next year, especially as the American
to drop, Republicans
Carnahan, leads Republican Rep. public continues to lose faith in the
could be in an
Roy Blunt in the race to succeed Democrat priorities and voters begin
advantageous position.
Bond. to realize the importance of electing
Carnahan, 48, an attorney who more Senate Republicans.”
still manages her family’s cattle farm Joked Bolger, “One thing we have
in rural Rolla, is benefi tting in part going for us, frankly, is that we’re out
from voters’ lingering disdain for of power.”
Washington, where Blunt has served However, some leading GOP
in Congress for 13 years and his thinkers warn that such a strategy
wife, Abigail Pearlman, is a well- is shortsighted and could backfi re.
E
S
connected lobbyist. “[This race boils “This year is going to be defi ned
G
A
M
down to] a question of whether you by Republicans and conservatives by
I
P
A
32 NEWSMAX / NOVEMBER 2009
30_POL_Midterms.indd 32 10/1/09 12:03 PM
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