The Washington Post's political blog has revised its assessment of the Democrats' prospects in the 2008 elections. Earlier this year, the Democrats boasted that they would pick up numerous seats in the U.S. Senate. Now the Post says that the quest for enough seats to break a filibuster -- 60 -- is a "pipe dream for Democrats."
Here's the Post's take on the race for Republican Senate Leader Mitch McConnell's seat:
The 2007 election results temporarily raised hopes for Democrats, as the takeover of the Kentucky governor's mansion energized party leaders in the state to run a serious candidate against Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R). Democrats quickly centered their candidate search on state Auditor Crit Luallen, who won reelection last month with 59 percent of the vote. After several weeks of considering, Luallen announced she would not run earlier this month.
Iraq war veteran Andrew Horne (D) has stepped forward, and some within the liberal blogosphere are rallying behind his candidacy. Still, Horne lost a Democratic primary in the 3rd District in 2006, and it's hard to see him beating a politician as savvy and well-funded as McConnell. Other candidates -- like wealthy businessmen Bruce Lunsford and Greg Fischer -- are still considering the race and may wind up as better choices against McConnell given their respective ability to self fund a race.
In addition to a weak field of Democrat candidates, McConnell is benefiting from a TV commercial that Vets for Freedom is running in support of him.
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While it is a tall order for Horne to unseat McConnell, I wouldn't be too optimistic about Republicans losing their filibuster ability in 2008. Those 6 seats were a "pipe dream' for the Democrats in October of 2006.
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