Virginia GOP Sees Warner Stepping Down

[Verily]

Thanks, John, for helping us throw away yet another Virginia Senate seat!

At this rate, we'll get back the Senate in...oh..2016?

He's...80...years...old.

How old was Thurmond when he left office?

100. But he wasn't really a Senator, more of a fungal growth.

[Verily]

Thanks, John, for helping us throw away yet another Virginia Senate seat!

At this rate, we'll get back the Senate in...oh..2016?

You guys could be in huge trouble, since if you don't beat Landrieu next year that makes two election cycles in a row with no Senate pickups, and 2010 doesn't have that many tempting targets either.

Who cares about 2010 right now?  If the Dems win the presidency it will be very enticing, plus 2012 could lead to double digit Republican pickups

There are not 10 Democratic Senators vulnerable in 2012, no matter what. Presidential years are generally neutral unless the Presidential race is an extreme landslide.

[Verily]

There are not 10 Democratic Senators vulnerable in 2012, no matter what. Presidential years are generally neutral unless the Presidential race is an extreme landslide.

Like 2000?

+4 is within the margin for neutral, and the Republicans even gained a seat. It certainly wasn't even close to +10. But, of course, 2000 may be comparable to 2012 - six years after a large victory - which would indicate slight Republican gains of around 2-4 seats at most (especially given that 2012 will happen with an incumbent, probably Democratic, president, while 2000 happened with no incumbent running).