Ratings Changes in FL, NH Senate races
Florida Governor Charlie’ Crist’s switch out of the GOP Senate race and into the Senate contest as an Independent, combined with the entry of wealthy businessman Jeff Greene into the Democrat race, adds some uncertainty into the contest. But it doesn’t, in our view, change the bottom line entirely. Move from Clear Advantage for Incumbent Party to Narrow Advantage for Incumbent Party. Marco Rubio (R) remains the favorite, but the three-way contest is more unpredictable.
While New Hampshire remains a competitive race, our interviews with the top candidates and recent polling leads us to believe that Republicans are more likely than not to retain this open seat. Move from Toss-up to Narrow Advantage for Incumbent Party.
While events between now and November will affect the outlook for November, the GOP seems most likely to net 5-7 Senate seats, with a 8-seat gain certainly possible (but still short of the 10-seat gain the GOP would need for control). That means Democrats are likely to retain control of the Senate, but at a dramatically reduced level.
Here are our latest Senate ratings.
#- Moved benefiting Democrats
*- Moved benefiting Republicans
- Lincoln (D-AR)
- Reid (D-NV)
- ND Open (Dorgan, D)
- DE Open (Kaufman, D)
- KY Open (Bunning, R)
- MO Open (Bond, R)
- OH Open (Voinovich, R)
- IL Open (Burris, D)
- IN Open (Bayh, D)
- Bennet (D-CO)
- Specter (D-PA)
- Burr (R-NC)
- FL Open (LeMieux, R) #
- NH Open (Gregg, R)*
- Vitter (R-LA)
- Boxer (D-CA)
- CT Open (Dodd, D)
- Bennett (R-UT)
- Coburn (R-OK)
- Crapo (R-ID)
- DeMint (R-SC)
- Grassley (R-IA)
- Isakson (R-GA)
- McCain (R-AZ)
- Murkowski (R-AK)
- Shelby (R-AL)
- Thune (R-SD)
- KS Open (Brownback, R)
- Feingold (D-WI)
- Gillibrand (D-NY)
- Inouye (D-HI)
- Leahy (D-VT)
- Mikulski (D-MD)
- Murray (D-WA)
- Schumer (D-NY)
- Wyden (D-OR)
