Democratic Prospects in 2012

In 2012, Democrats have a good chance of picking up the U.S. Senate seat in Massachusetts currently held by Sen. Scott Brown (R-MA). In Nevada, Sen. John Ensign's (R-NV) ethics battles are far from over and if he is not primaried he will make a weak general election opponent. Let's not forget Connecticut, where Sen. Joe Lieberman (ID-CT) has a tough road to hoe with his approval ratings under 50 percent among Republicans, Democrats, and independents, which is a difficult trifecta to overcome. Count on a more reliable Democrat to win that race. In Virginia, Sen. Jim Webb (D-VA) or former Gov. Tim Kaine (D-VA), the current Chairman of the Democratic National Committee, would probably win in a match with former Sen. George Allen (R-VA). If Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME) is primaried by a Tea Party candidate that wins, she will likely have her seat filled by a Democrat in January 2013. Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA) will have a good chance at winning re-election, especially riding on President Obama's coattails. Sens. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), and others in blue states will likely cruise to re-election.