We currently have 51 Senators voting with us. I know that counts whining Joe, but at least he sticks with us on organizing the Senate.
Can we make it to 60? Do we need to?
First - the count.
None of our incumbents is in serious trouble. Even South Dakota and Louisiana appear to be moving into safe territory for this fall.
Democratic candidates have been holding good leads in Virginia, New Hampshire and New Mexico. Polling shows leads for Alaska and Colorado, as well. Winning those five seats would be an incredible feat - moving the Senate to 56-44.
But there's more good news. Recent polls in Texas, Minnesota, North Carolina and Oregon show tight races. Missisippi-2 shows serious promise. And I expect Maine to get closer.
Then there are the wild cards - McConnell in Kentucky, Alexander in Tennessee. Inhofe in Oklahoma might be getting too kooky even for the Okies. A macaca moment somewhere unexpected could add another race to the mix.
And in my home state of Nebraska, Scott Kleeb looks to make little Mikey Johanns a nervous wreck before it's over.
Picking off just two of those seats would be historic - making it 58-42. Four and we're at 60-40!
But do we really need to reach that magic 60?
I think we're going to win a Presidential landslide. If that happens, coupled with 4-6 Senate seats, does anyone seriously think that the Republicans up for election in 2010 are going to commit suicide by continuing to block everything we want to do? Not even they are that dumb.
If things turn out the way I think they're going to, we're going to have to watch out for hubris and corruption among our own people. It might actually be possible for Barak to GOVERN the county!
Wouldn't that be nice?