Open Seats, from Alex Forshaw
Sen. Pete Domenici Expected to Retire
Veteran Sen. Pete Domenici (R-N.M.) is expected to announce tomorrow that he will retire from the Senate in 2008, according to several informed sources, a decision that further complicates an already difficult playing field for Republicans next November.
The number of GOP retirements, and thus all-important open seats, is skyrocketing.
GOP Congressmen have learned that life is not much fun when you get only about 33% of the pork instead of the majoritarian 66%, so the stampede is really beginning to roll. I'm trying to mentally count the number of GOP open Senate seats: VA, NM, Widestance, Nebraska (probably a hold), CO… and Norm Coleman in MN is in for a rough ride.
Many other GOP senators are apparently going to try to defend vulnerable seats. Gordon Smith, who leaked to the press that Petraeus privately gave the surge a 25% chance of success (because Smith's newfound antiwar zeal matters more), seems to be committed to defending his seat.
The Dems seem set for 56-58 Senate seats, probably through 2014.