2008 Senate predictions

[Conan]

Potential Pick Ups for Dems:
Maine
New Hampshire
Colorado
Minnesota
Oregon
Oklahoma
These don't include places where we could win if there was a retirement like VA or NM.

Realistic Dem Pick Ups:
Colorado
Minnesota
New Hampshire
Oregon

Most Realistic Dem:
Colorado
Minnesota

Potential Rep Pick Ups:
South Dakota (used to be out of the question)
Louisiana

Realistic and Most Realistic Rep:
Same as potential.

[Conan]

At this point I'd say the map favors the dems, if only because the GOP has more seats to defend and more potential retirements.

There's also a few seats where people were lucky to have been elected such as:
NH: phone jamming scandal
MN: plane crash
OR: 9/11 factor

[Conan]

OR: 9/11 factor

Err, I'm not sure how strong the 9/11 factor was in 1997...

2002. Err.

[Conan]

OR: 9/11 factor

Err, I'm not sure how strong the 9/11 factor was in 1997...

I think he means Smith's re-election in 2002.  Obviously strengthed due to Bush's high approval but he was also helped by the fact that he worked well with Ron Wyden, was a moderate and the Democrats did not target him. 

Nor did he receive a serious challenge.