Senate Democrats Grapple with a Suddenly Less Promising 2010

Monday, 21 September 2009 09:44

In the News

Time Magazine

Only nine months ago, the 2010 electoral landscape looked ripe with promise to freshman Senator Bob Menendez, a New Jersey Democrat who assumed the helm of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, which helps elect Democratic candidates to the Senate. Riding high with what would become a gain of eight seats (when the Minnesota recount was eventually decided in Al Franken's favor), Menendez was delighted when four Republican senators announced their intention to retire: George Voinovich of Ohio, Mel Martinez of Florida, Kit Bond of Missouri and Sam Brownback of Kansas. President Barack Obama had carried both Ohio and Florida in 2008 and the open seats looked like promising potential Democratic pick ups.

But then suddenly things started changing. The political scandal surrounding Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich and now Senator Roland Burris handicapped the Democrats' chances of keeping Obama's old Senate seat. Governors in Colorado and New York appointed two relative unknowns to fill Hillary Clinton and Ken Salazar's shoes, respectively, both of whom left for the cabinet. And then Ted Kennedy died, prompting a Massachusetts special election due to be held in January.

Full story here.