Most analysts agree that the Democratic Party will gain seats in both Chambers of Congress during the elections this November. The question that is now often debated by analysts is +óGé¼GÇ£ will the Democrats be able to take control of either the House or the Senate? According to Rasmussen Reports, the Democrats have gone from potentially being able to draw even in the Senate to having a fair shot at actually becoming the majority.
The battle for control of the U.S. Senate is getting closer+óGé¼GÇ¥much closer. Little more than a week ago, our Balance of Power summary showed the Republicans leading 50-45 with five states in the Toss-Up category. Today, Rasmussen Reports is changing three races from +óGé¼+ôToss-Up+óGé¼-¥ to +óGé¼+ôLeans Democrat.+óGé¼-¥ As a result, Rasmussen Reports now rates 49 seats as Republican or Leans Republican while 48 seats are rated as Democrat or Leans Democrat (see State-by-State Summary). There are now just three states in the Toss-Up category--Tennessee, New Jersey, and Missouri.Part of the reason Virginia remains in the +óGé¼+ôleans Republican+óGé¼-¥ category could be the fact that Rasmussen Reports concludes that Allen+óGé¼Gäós ratings have stopped dropping after he made the decision to welcome S.R. Sidarth, a life long Virginian, to the United States and referred to him as a genus of monkey. That, however, doesn+óGé¼Gäót mean that Allen is currently out of trouble +óGé¼GÇ£ especially considering that during the first 24 hours after the debate on Meet the Press, Webb received over $100,000 in donations.Today+óGé¼Gäós changes all involve Republican incumbents who have been struggling all year. In
Montana, Senator Conrad Burns (R) has fallen behind Jon Tester (D). Rhode Island Senator Lincoln Chafee (R) survived his primary but starts the General Election as a decided underdog. Sherrod Brown (D) is enjoying a growing lead over Ohio Senator Mike DeWine (R).Four other seats are now ranked as +óGé¼+ôLeans Democrat+óGé¼-¥+óGé¼GÇ¥
Pennsylvania, Minnesota, Maryland, and Michigan.Virginia is the only state rated as +óGé¼+ôLeans Republican.+óGé¼-¥
A Webb consultant tells [Kos] that the Meet The Press debate in which Webb kicked Allen's ass has proven to be a financial boon to Webb. In the 24 hours since the debate, the campaign scored over $100,000 online, unsolicited. That's not including offline fundraising.If Webb is able to keep gaining ground, the race will soon have to be placed in the toss-up category. No matter what, however, the Republican Party will have to devote more attention to a race that was considered an easy victory a few months ago.The more people hear Webb, the more they see him, the more they learn about him, the more excited and engaged they become.