Memo from ED Rob Jesmer

Wednesday, 07 October 2009 10:33

With yesterday's announcement by Congressman and former Governor Mike Castle (DE), the 2010 outlook for Senate Republicans continues to improve.

In response to Castle's announcement, the highly-respected political pundit Stuart Rothenberg immediately shifted the Delaware Senate race from "currently safe" for Democrats to "lean takeover" for the GOP.  A Rasmussen survey released just last week showed Castle leading his potential Democrat opponent, Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden, 47 to 42 percent.

Meanwhile in Illinois, GOP Congressman Mark Kirk, known for his ability to repeatedly win re-election in his Democrat-leaning district, announced Monday that he has raised more than $1.6 million during the third quarter. Kirk's likely Democrat opponents in this race include Tony Rezko's former banker who has suspected ties to the mob, and a former Chief of Staff to disgraced former Governor Rod Blagojevich.

These two races are shaping up well for Republicans to capture two seats in traditionally blue states - the two seats formerly held by President Obama and Vice President Biden.  It also means that the Democrats will be forced to play defense in two states they've previously counted as safe.  Senator Bob Menendez, Chairman of the Democrat Senate political campaign committee, has already stated that Democrats will be spending "significant" resources to ensure these seats remain blue.  Every Democrat dollar spent in Illinois and Delaware is a dollar that can't be spent defending seats elsewhere.

Meanwhile, Democrat incumbents across the country are facing tough fights to hold onto their seats.  Polls continue to show Harry Reid in serious political peril in his home state of Nevada - this BEFORE he sets out to sell American's on a government takeover of our health care system.  Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas is trailing all four of her GOP challengers in recent polling, and Michael Bennet in Colorado faces an uphill primary challenge.

Voters are beginning to send a clear signal to Democrats that their liberal agenda of higher taxes and a larger federal government are not favored by most Americans.  Senate Republicans look to restore checks-and-balances in Washington, and the outlook for doing that is growing brighter by the day.

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