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ability of a, well, actually nothing comes to mind here because Stormy Dean has so little natural campaign ability. He may have a good message but we'll never know because it just doesn't come across. Heck, his campaign brain trust didn't even allow his last name on his advertisements, just big letters spelling "Stormy." Well, both Stormy and Dean are going down to an embarrassing defeat as is everyone else on the statehouse ticket and that is the sad story because there were a couple of good candidates like Mike Meister for attorney general. He would have made a great replacement for the politicized office holder Don Stenberg. Meister would have been a breath of badly needed fresh air in that office. Look for a clean sweep for the GOP statehouse ticket as well as for Hagel, Bereuter, Terry and Osborne.
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Even before Sen. Wellstone's untimely death, I was prepared to predict his win. The day after he voted against Bush's blank check for war the VFW endorsed Wellstone and he shot up in Minnesota polls from being three points down to six points up with no sign of slippage. Wellstone's organization was far superior to Coleman's and his get out the vote effort was much better. With former Sen. Walter Mondale now subbing for Wellstone the Bushes of the world can write this race off as a loser. - Dem. Retained
In Arkansas the sitting Senator, Hutchinson, a former floor manager for the Clinton impeachment will be defeated by the voters and the Democrats will pick up a seat. Hutchinson's GOP family values line lost luster after his escapades with his secretary. DEMS +1.
In Colorado the incumbent senator, Wayne Allard, has given Colorado voters no reason to vote for him even over the same candidate he defeated 6 years ago, In this rematch challenger Strickland has run the better race and Allard's poll numbers show him tied at about 40%. In the last election cycle every sitting senator that had trouble breaking the 40% barrier two weeks out of the election lost his race. So will Allard. DEMS +2
New Hampshire voters will have perhaps the closest race in the nation with Congressman Sununu challenging Gov. Shaheen for what amounts to an open seat since Sen. Smith was defeated in the primary. Polls show Sununu ahead by a couple of points but Shaeheen has closed the gap rapidly being about 8 points down a few weeks ago. Sen. Smith is not helping Sununu and the congressman has made a gaff or two on the campaign trail. A cliff hanger but Shaheen with an edge. DEMS +3
Missouri voters must choose between Sen. Carnahan and former Congressman Talent. Carnahan was appointed when her husband was killed in a plane crash two weeks before the election in 2000. Her dead husband defeated Sen, Ashcroft who then rose from the ranks of the soon to be unemployed to become Bush's Attorney General. Sen. Wellstone's untimely death, eerily similar to Carnahan's tragedy, might give some sympathy vote to Carnahan. Dem Retained.
South Dakota voters must be nauseated by political ads by this time. This has been a hard fought contest all summer by the sitting senator and the sitting congressman. Charges by the GOP of voter fraud on Indian reservations have had a drag on the Johnson campaign. However, I'm betting in the end the voters of the tiny state of South Dakota will realize their clout with the Senate Majority Leader and a member of the Appropriations Committee. Dem. Retained
North Carolina with the transplanted Elizabeth Dole running against Erskine Bowles has been a dull race until lately when Bowles closed the gap considerably. As much as I have always thought Liddy Dole was a phony and would like to see her back at the Red Cross, I'm giving her the edge. Rep. Retained
South Carolina has needed to replace Strom Thurmond for decades but at 100 years old in December, Thurmond has decided to retire and thus he actually will be replaced. Congressman Lindsay Graham is running against Democrat Sanders. Although Sanders has closed the gap to a few points, say hello to Sen. Graham. Rep. Retained
Texas has a barn-burner going on down there. Late polls show a dead even race. Still, Kirk, the Democrat is black and this is Texas. If a state can elect and then foist onto the entire country someone so ill equipped to lead as George W. Bush, then they can cast aside Kirk and vote for Cornyn in a tight race. Rep. Retained
Georgia is in the midst of a dirty campaign whereby the challenger, Congressman Chambliss is por
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