GOP Faces Uphill Battle for Senate in 2010

Wave of retirees in competitive states leaves party open
By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff
Posted Jan 13, 2009 2:02 PM CST
GOP Faces Uphill Battle for Senate in 2010
Sen. George Voinovich speaks during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Monday, Jan. 12, 2009, to announce that he will not seek another term as senator.   (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

The 2010 election isn’t looking any better than the past two for Senate Republicans, CNN reports. When two-term Ohio Sen. George Voinovich threw in the towel yesterday, he became the fourth Republican incumbent to step down and leave a potentially competitive race. Democrats have lost only Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden, both hailing from deep blue territory.

In addition to Voinovich’s seat in always-contentious Ohio, Republicans are defending empty chairs in Missouri, where McCain won by less than 1%; Florida, where Jeb Bush refuses to run; and Kansas, where Democrats have been gaining ground. Worse, of the Dems’ 15 incumbents only Harry Reid looks weak. Of course, it’s still early. “A lot depends on what happens in the next year,” a Republican strategist said. “Democrats are running everything now.” (More Senate stories.)

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