At least not technically. Michael Barone predicts that the Democrats will end up with 58 Senate seats after next Tuesday's elections, though even that will probably be enough to stop most filibusters. (Remember that the safest Republican with a serious Democratic opponent is Susan Collins, who will be helpful on some filibusters but not many.) The only race where I disagree with him is Norm Coleman in Minnesota. I wouldn't guarantee a Coleman loss, but I think his chances are weaker than Gordon Smith's in Oregon. So if I'm right and John Sununu doesn't pull off an upset, that would leave the Democrats at 59 seats and the Republicans in pretty much the same situation of occasional filibustering.
Jon | 10.30.08 @ 7:18PM
The two most recent polls have Coleman ahead.
Gordon R. Durand| 10.30.08 @ 8:25PM
I don't know Minnesota, but I've lived in Oregon all my life. Gordon H Smith will soon be unemployed.
Richard M| 10.31.08 @ 8:53AM
The polls do seem to be swinging Coleman's way - up by 6 according to NBC and 4 by Rasmussen. That's a big shift.
Was it the shocking Minneapolis (Red) Star endorsement? I don't know. But the trends now seem encouraging. And that's just as well: The beating we're going to take on Tuesday night will be a little easier to take if Franken falls short. This is the best that the state party of Humphrey, Mondale and Wellstone can do?