By John Whitesides
WASHINGTON, March 8 (Reuters) – Republicans must pick up a
net of six seats from Democrats to regain control of the U.S.
Senate in the Nov. 4 elections. The key battles
are likely to play out in these 13 states:
ALASKA – Democratic Senator Mark Begich is running for a
second term in this conservative state, and three Republicans
will compete in an August primary for the right to challenge
him. Former state attorney general Dan Sullivan is the early
favorite, and his fundraising has far outpaced that of the other
two Republican candidates, Lieutenant Governor Mead Treadwell
and 2010 nominee Joe Miller.
ARKANSAS – Democratic Senator Mark Pryor is seeking a third
term against Republican Representative Tom Cotton, who holds a
slight lead in early polls in an increasingly Republican state.
COLORADO – Things got a lot tougher for Democratic Senator
Mark Udall last week when Republican Representative Cory Gardner
jumped into the race.
GEORGIA – The race to replace retiring Republican Senator
Saxby Chambliss has drawn a big Republican primary field. That
could be good news for Democrat Michelle Nunn, daughter of
former senator Sam Nunn. Democrats hope Michelle Nunn will face
either Phil Gingrey or Paul Broun, congressmen who are favorites
of the conservative Tea Party movement and known for making
controversial remarks. Others in the Republican primary include
Representative Jack Kingston, former Georgia secretary of state
Karen Handel and businessman David Perdue.
IOWA – Democrats in this politically divided state have
settled on Representative Bruce Braley to replace retiring
Democratic Senator Tom Harkin, giving Braley a chance to fatten
his campaign accounts and prepare for a November race against
the winner of a crowded Republican primary in June.
KENTUCKY – This high-stakes Senate race features a double
hurdle for Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, who first
must beat Tea Party challenger Matt Bevin in the Republican
primary in May. If McConnell wins as expected, he will face
Democratic secretary of state Alison Grimes in November. Former
president Bill Clinton campaigned for Grimes in Kentucky last
week.
LOUISIANA – Democratic senator Mary Landrieu is accustomed
to tough election fights, and she will have another one this
year. U.S. representative Bill Cassidy leads a field of
Republican challengers that includes Tea Party favorite Rob
Maness and Republican state representative Paul Hollis. Landrieu
could face a runoff in December if she fails to clear 50 percent
in the state’s unusual open primary on Nov. 4.
MICHIGAN – The retirement of Democratic senator Carl Levin
has sparked a surprisingly competitive battle in heavily
Democratic Michigan. Ads by the conservative group Americans for
Prosperity have hammered the likely Democratic nominee,
Representative Gary Peters, over his support for President
Barack Obama’s healthcare overhaul. Peters has criticized
Republican Terri Lynn Land, a former Michigan secretary of
state, for her opposition to the auto bailout during the 2008
and 2009 financial crisis. Many analysts credit the bailout with
helping to save the auto industry in Detroit.
MONTANA – Democratic senator John Walsh got a head start
last month when he was sworn in to replace the retiring Max
Baucus, who became U.S. ambassador to China. But polls show
Republican representative Steve Daines already has a big lead
over Walsh in the November election, and the conservative
advocacy group American Crossroads has slammed Walsh in an ad
over a 2010 Army inspector general’s report that said he
improperly solicited other National Guard leaders to join an
association he was running. Walsh responded with ads defending
his record and accusing Republicans of smears.
NORTH CAROLINA – Democratic senator Kay Hagan has been
pummeled by millions of dollars in ads from Americans for
Prosperity, attacking her for backing the program known as
Obamacare. But Hagan entered the year with nearly $7 million on
hand and could be helped by Republicans’ having a competitive
primary in May.
SOUTH DAKOTA – Republican former governor Mike Rounds is
favored to replace retiring Democratic senator Tim Johnson in
this conservative, heavily Republican state.
VIRGINIA – Democratic senator Mark Warner is still the heavy
favorite in this state, but former Republican National Committee
chairman Ed Gillespie has complicated Warner’s task by jumping
into the race.
WEST VIRGINIA – Republican representative Shelley Moore
Capito is favored to replace retiring Democratic senator Jay
Rockefeller. Democratic secretary of state Natalie Tennant
trails Capito in polls and fundraising.
(Editing by David Lindsey and Prudence Crowther)
