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A Long Record of Obamite Thuggery
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The Spectacle Blog
In 2012, Republicans will have failed miserably if they somehow don’t take a majority in the Senate. More vulnerable Dems are up for re-election than vulnerable Repubs. In the following races, here ar ethe incubment Dems and the GOPers who ought to run.
California: Feinstein. (may not run for re-election). GOPer Poizner should run.
Delaware: Tom Carper. tough to beat. I wouldn’t mind seeing Castle run again. Better than that would be to recruit some serious new blood from the business world. Nobody comes to mind.
Bill Nelson of Florida: C’mon, Jeb. Step up.
Hawaii: Akaka. Let’s hope he retires. Either way, Linda Lingle and Charles Djou both should seriously consider the race.
Ben Cardin of Maryland: Tough, tough race. Calling Bob Erlich, but I doubt he’ll do it. His running mate this time, Mary Kane, comes across well.
Michigan: Stabenow. She is eminently beatable. A host of folks could run. I wouldn’t mind seeing Pete Hoekstra try the race.
Minnesota: Amy Klobuchar. Eminently beatable. Norm Coleman could try a comeback. I’d like to see Rep. Erik Paulsen try it.
Misssouri: Claire McCaskill. Decent GOP state, but she’s positioned herself well. GOP needs to recruit new blood here.
Montana. Tester. Eminently beatable, because it’s such a GOP state. Whatever happened to Marc Racicot?
Nebraska: Ben Nelson should be toast. Any number of GOPers could run.
New Jersey: Menendez. Tough state, but beatable. New blood is needed in the GOP. Tea Party needs to recrit somebody.
New Mexico — Jeff Bingaman will be tough to beat, but not impossible. Tea Party needs to recruit.
New York: Gillibrand. Boy did the GOP ever screw this one up. It’s time for Susan Molinari to come out of retirement. Or for Giuiliani to check his ego at the door and make a race of it.
North Dakota. Conrad. Tough te beat, but state REALLY should want another Republican instead of sticking with a Dem. Rick Berg, who just knocked off Earl Pomeroy for the House, should challenge him.
Ohio: Sherrod Brown. Please. Surely he can be beaten. I’d be thrilled if Kenneth Blackwell tried a comeback. He was victim of an awful year to run for governor. He might be able to really make a go of a Senate race.
Pennsylvania: If Bob Casey isn’t beatable, there is no justice. The Tea Partiers should find a solid legislator/businessman, but if they don’t, then Mark Schweiker, former fill-in governor and then president of the state Chamber, also could be strong.
Sheldon Whitehouse, Rhode Island. Almost unbeatable, darn it.
Virginia: George Allen should trounce Jim Webb in a rematch.
Washington: Maria Cantwell is eminently beatable. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers should take her on.
West Virginia: Joe Manchin. It’s time to start wooing him for a party switch.
Wisconsin: Herb Kohl. Here’s betting Kohl retires. Either way, newly elected House member Sean Duffy should run.
Connecticut: Leave Joe Lieberman alone. He’s a good man.
Vermont: Bernie Sanders. It’s time to make a real effort to try to move Vermont back to the center. With whom? Who knows?
By my count, there are 11 Demo seats that the GOP really should be able to pick up. Only two Republican seats are at risk. Again, if the GOP, with conservatives in the lead, can’t take a majority, it’s incompetent.
View all comments (51) | Leave a comment
More Blog Posts by Quin Hillyer
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Jeanie| 11.3.10 @ 6:23PM
Jeb vs Nelson?
That should be an easy win for Jeb. Floridians only voted for Bill Nelson because they thought he was my master, Tony.
Cyrus | 11.12.10 @ 4:22AM
Jeb Bush should run and base on the rumors in the blogosphere, there is an indication the he will run for Florida US Senator in 2012. He did decline in 2010 because he felt the "I Hate Bush" bandwagon didn't fad away and he wanted to spend time with his family and business ventures.
Now, with "I Hate Bush" bandwagon starting to diminish and Obama's horrific role as president, there are signs that the Bush name is making a comeback. The new book of George W. Bush "Decision Point" has sold over 220,000 copies and overwhelmingly eclipse Bill Clinton's book done in digital on Amazon. Also, there are many people starting to have voters remorse for Obama. There are some wishing George W. Bush return back to the oval office. The satire that has George W. Bush waving with the message "Miss me yet?" is embarrassing the Obama Administration. As George W. Bush gains more traction and Obama ruins this country, it opens the door for little baby brother to make his move.
JEB BUSH FOR SENATE 2012!!!!
Cyrus| 11.12.10 @ 4:33AM
Remember, Jeb Bush had very high approval rating after he finished his 2nd term as Governor of Florida. He is not like brother, George, but both brothers do empathically love this country. Jeb Bush is a fantastic policy maker and kept Florida's economy vibrant.
Jeb Bush maintain a 60% approval rating among Hispanics in Florida. He speaks fluent Spanish and is married to a Latina wife. I fully endorse Jeb Bush for the Florida Senate seat in 2012.
I may not be a campaign manager for Jeb Bush, but I do know he will endorse my message. hehe. :D
Sean| 11.3.10 @ 6:37PM
The GOP should not leave Joe Lieberman alone. He is a leftist. Give the Republicans in the state a choice for a real conservative.
Jim| 11.3.10 @ 7:28PM
Sean, Quinn is right. I'm a strong conservative, I must say that Joe is indeed good man. Let's give credit where credit is due : he voted against BammyCare.
WL| 11.3.10 @ 8:56PM
"he voted against BammyCare"....????????
Dear Sir..."JIM"...I agree with your opinion of Lieberman as "a good man." He is MOST DEFINITELY a good man, and I don't think that most conservatives have any real specific animosity with him. On that we agree to agree...
However, your assertion that he "didn't" vote for Obamacare is DEAD WRONG...You appear to be falling for the I voted against it after I was the 60th vote for cloture LIE!!!! Yes, he did vote for it AFTER he let it go through!!!!!
AGUGHGJFJGHFJGU!!!!!!!!! This kind of faulty thinking is exactly our problem...kinda like "THE GOOD CRIMINAL GAVE ME A DRINK OF WATER AS I WAS TIED UP IN THE TRUNK WHEN THE BAD CRIMINAL WASN'T LOOKING"
Please sir, re-evaluate your thinking.
BOttom line...RECRUIT JOE..and welcome him if he comes over....BUT CHOOSE HE MUST...and if he chooses to stay with the DEMS...then we need to be like the soldiers in the Civil War.....
trade coffee with him across the riverat night when the guns are quiet....and maybe even a cup of coffee when their is no river between us....
BUT IN THE MORNING......he's FAIR GAME for political BATTLE.
WL| 11.3.10 @ 8:58PM
DETAIL CORRECTION....last post should have said...in essense...
He voted AGAINST it, after he he let it go through
Sean| 11.3.10 @ 9:50PM
He maybe a great guy and all, but he is not a conservative. He caucuses with Democrats and is a liberal . Would it not be better to get a real conservative in the Senate in his place?
Bill Hussein O'Stalin| 11.3.10 @ 7:12PM
I will make up my mind after I see who Sarah Palin likes.
Sean | 11.3.10 @ 7:18PM
Of course Republicans should take the majority in 2012... It's almost a fait acompli barring some disaster in 2 years (i.e. Palin/Huckabee 2012). Who cares if they do? The point is the Republicans should have taken 9-10 seats in 2010 (not 6) but for the Republican Party's depressing incompetence in terms of recruitment and GOTV. The results in the Senate are inexcusable. Angle, O'Donnell, Dioguardi were terrible candidates. I can forgive losing NY because of its generally shallow pool of Republican talent and maybe Pataki or Rudy will run in 2 yrs and make the race competitive. I wasn't expecting California to go Republican, since I didn't see a single poll with Fiorina ahead. Nor did I expect Dino Rossi to ever break through in Washington even if he deserves to win. But there was no excuse losing Colorado, Nevada, or Delaware. No Excuse. Blame the media all you want, those candidates made more unforced errors than any of us can count. The media didn't derail other candidates. Winning these 3 (even with less than ideologically perfect candidates) would have given us split control with only 10 seats to win in 2012 for 60- that's doable. To repeal Obamacare completely we NEED 60 votes not just a majority (unless we chip away at it via reconciliation but it is a limited trick). And I hate to say this, we are not going to get 60 votes. Not in 2012, not in 2014, especially given the fact that the Dems win every close (
Sean| 11.3.10 @ 7:19PM
(
WL| 11.3.10 @ 9:10PM
Hey there Sean...
I agree with most of what you say...BUT....we can get 60 votes if done right....
If we have majorities(and the presidency)...we pass the repeal...RIGHT BEFORE THE NEXT ELECTION...then you might get it...
But overall you are right...
Won't happen.
TLS| 11.4.10 @ 2:52PM
Actually, it could happen with a simple majority. One word: reconcilliation. That's how it was passed in the first place.
CombatBob| 11.4.10 @ 11:59AM
Former LtGov Jane Norton would have won CO. I voted for her in the primary, but she lost to Ken Buck, who I also voted for in the general of course. Hate to say "I Told You So..."
Steven W. | 11.3.10 @ 7:28PM
It was always more likely to take the Senate in 2012 vs. 2010 ... what's so amazing is how close it was & even more could have been in 2010.
Christopher Holland| 11.3.10 @ 7:38PM
Giuiliani has blown or sat through too many opportunities now. This guy is the biggest choker in town, he goes missing every time the tournament comes to town. He can't be considered a serious candidate for anything. If he is the best that New York has to offer then it is no surprise that all elections end in tears there. His use by date has expired.
bfwebster | 11.3.10 @ 7:41PM
What the NRSC and the various state Republican parties need to start doing is identifying, vetting, and grooming candidates _now_. Too many races were lost yesterday for a lack of that. I lay the responsibility for the 'enthusiasm gap' between the Senate races and, oh, every other race (House, gubernatorial, state legislative) directly at the feet of the NRSC. ..bruce..
Sheila| 11.3.10 @ 7:44PM
And I'm supposed to be excited by this recycling list of old, GOP establishment candidates? I don't think so. As a conservative who happens to vote most often for Republicans, I want to see some Tea Party people with principles. Otherwise, I leave the ballot blank.
WL| 11.3.10 @ 9:12PM
Dear Sheila...
Leaving the Ballot blank...
GOT US OBAMA!!!!!!!!!
Tim*| 11.4.10 @ 6:06AM
The Serial Traitor to Conservatism,John McCain Got Us Obama.
McCain-Feingold, McCain-Kennedy, McCain-Lieberman, Gang of 14, Opposing Bush 2001 & 2003 Tax Cuts , Voting For TARP.
Sheila| 11.4.10 @ 10:26AM
Yes, Tim, John McCain got us Obama. I held my nose and voted for that poor excuse for a conservative, so do me a favor WL, and go try to convince someone else that conservatives must put aside their consciences and principles and support a "centrist" and "electable" candidate like Daniels or Pawlenty. I repeat, I will leave the ballot blank.
Hector| 11.3.10 @ 8:07PM
If Rossi couldn't beat Murray in Washington this year, Cantwell is untouchable unless the climate gets significantly worse for the D's. And while McMorris is great, it is extraordinarily difficult for an Eastern Washington R to overcome King County's dominance of the state.
Matt X| 11.3.10 @ 8:53PM
I can't believe I am seeing a conservative recommend that we run Castle again in DE. Castle is not a conservative. If you don't like unpolished candidates like O'Donnel defeating liberal Republicans in primaries, stop promoting liberal Republicans.
Don't mess with Joe, he's a nice guy? He's a nice guy that generally supports intrusive government. I'm sure Stalin had friends too, before he purged them.
O'Donnell is a nut| 11.3.10 @ 10:23PM
When are you people going to get it through your thick fuc*ing skulls: DELAWARE IS NOT A CONSERVATIVE STATE.
Matt Heath| 11.3.10 @ 8:55PM
I hope we can do better than Jeb Bush too.
WL| 11.3.10 @ 9:13PM
I second that!!!
Cyrus | 11.12.10 @ 5:30AM
Not to be hypercritical, is the displeasure of Jeb Bush has any connection you didn't like his brother, George? Please, if you don't live in the state of Florida, you have no idea what good deed this governor gave to us.
This is the "I Hate Bush" bandwagon mongers I can't stand. It is pure ignorance for your absurd statement regarding Jeb Bush.
If you didnt know, Jeb Bush kept Florida vibrant. He is an amazing policy maker. He had a very high approval rating after he completed 2 terms in office, the first Republican to do it in Florida. In fact, he had a 60% approval rating among Hispanics in Florida. Jeb Bush was more accessible to the people than prior Governors. Overall, he remained popular throughout his terms with his Florida constituency.
Jeb Bush's most significant accomplishments and legacy are clearly his advancements in the state's public education. Jeb made education reform a defining theme and introduced the "A+ Plan" to achieve consistent standardized testing across all schools, eliminate social promotion programs and implement a system of funding public schools based on a comparative grading system. Bush also championed school vouchers and charter schools in districts where public schools failed the students, however, these initiatives failed to gain traction before Bush left office and have remained dormant. From a higher education perspective, Bush approved three new medical schools during his terms as Governor.
Throughout his Governorship, Bush's administration promoted a theme of non–discrimination and rewarding merit. The Bush administration appointed more highly qualified women, blacks and other minorities in top-level government positions than any prior Florida Governor.
Finally, I would like to hear your views why you dislike Jeb Bush. If your premise is base on avoidance of a Bush Dynasty, you, my friend, are a liberal playing as a moderate.
WL| 11.3.10 @ 9:16PM
New Plan for conservatives...
When doom comes...and it's coming...
We wall off California. We wall off the extreme Northeast....AND MAKE THEM involuntarily secede...THEN in Democrat fashion...say that they DID IT, not us....THEN we hold elections and keep those two walls up...never to let them in our territory AGAIN.
Can you imagine the change in dynamics to our electorate??????
THAT is my HAPPY PLACE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rich Rostrom| 11.3.10 @ 9:55PM
Castle is 71. He was almost too old to run this year. In 2012, he'd be even more out of date.
Time for DE Republicans to bring out some new faces.
ExiledCalifornian| 11.3.10 @ 10:01PM
Conservatives need a new approach to win these Western statewide races. Clearly "we need new blood". But how does that translate to action? It's not just the candidate, it's the outreach strategy starting TODAY - long before the primaries. I hope & pray that the GOP improves at developing & finding conservative Hispanic & Asian voters - because otherwise these minorities are going to swamp GOP Senate AND Presidential candidates in must-win Western states in 2012/2014. The economy is not going to improve anytime soon so there's an opening with outreach to anti-amnesty Hispanics (a block which is growing thanks to the terrible economy). I liked how the GOP/Tea Party forced the Dems to play defense in 2010 - but it wasn't enough in CA, WA, NV and CO. The minority vote matters.
Matt X| 11.3.10 @ 10:06PM
What's the difference b/t Coons and Castle? You'll never get Quinn or any of the conservative pundit class to provide a conservative case for Coons. It's all about demographics and just winning for the sake of winning. O'Donnel still managed 40% of the popular vote in DE despite not being a polished candidate and the most mocked candidate by Democrats, and sneered at by people like Rove and Quinn. I"m not convinced that Castle does any better than 40%, but let's face it, Quinn wants to gloat that O'Donnel lost. There's no other reason to bring up Castle in 2012 as it's just highly unlikely he'll win the nomination if he could not beat O'Donnel this time.
O'Donnell is a nut| 11.3.10 @ 10:22PM
Anyone who asks what the difference is between Coons and Castle either needs to eductate himself about Castle's and Coons's actual voting records or just shut the hell up. Castle voted with the Republicans more than half the time. Coons will vote with the Dems virtually 100% of the time.
Matt X| 11.3.10 @ 10:09PM
I think it says a lot about minorities that so many of them refuse to vote for anybody that does not share their skin color. It's hard to respect people that don't vote on the issues.
JimH| 11.4.10 @ 10:17AM
Not true. To their detriment they tend to vote straight Democrat. A white Democrat will tend to beat black or Hispanic republican candidates in minority areas.
Matt X| 11.3.10 @ 10:26PM
Castle was with Obama on all the big issues. Just the facts. Castle is a nut. Koons is a nut. You want to whine about O'Donnel, that's cool, but don't try to mainstream Castle or Coons. Castle's boy Obama just got rejected in the midterms, and let's face it Delaware is a small sample size. Kooks like Coons can win states like DE and Vermont.
Bo| 11.4.10 @ 2:06PM
So, you're saying health care, the second stimulus, partial birth abortion, extending the Bush tax cuts, etc, aren't "big issues"?
George S| 11.3.10 @ 11:43PM
While we are playing fantasy football for 2012:
The HHS Secretary is busy building the regulatory infrastructure for the implementation of ObamaCare;
The Bush era tax cuts are set to expire and unemployment benefit extension is up for renewal;
Harry Reid is setting a trap for the Republican congress by showing a little leg to McConnell in terms of modifying the 1099 requirement to preempt repeal;
We still do not have a budget -- are we going to increase the debt ceiling or are we going to cut into the deficit?
The Fed is buying extra printing presses as China is not going to buy anymore of our dollars;
The Consumer Protection Agency is about to do to credit cards and auto leasing what the Community Reinvestment Act did to home mortgages.
GM bondholders are still robbed of their bonds and the UAW pensions are 60% funded;
Bernie Sanders has his eyes on your 401k;
Tuition is going to skyrocket now that the government controls student loans;
Justice Ginsberg may very well retire and the appellate courts are going to be staffed by radical malcontents.
Looking ahead to 2012 instead of the game on the field in front of us is a sure fire way to put us deeper in the hole than we already are.
Cyrus | 11.12.10 @ 5:46AM
Handicapping the 2012 election is nice but if you are a day trader, you look for trends.
Fact, Republicans cleaned house on the governors race. They hold the majority. With the redistricting plans, I can almost bet with certainty that it will remain a Republican state.
Fact, 680 newly election state legislature are Republican. This is huge and will make a dramatic impact for 2012.
Fact, Obama is not Bill Clinton. If Obama tried to run to the center, he would have to renege all his socialist bill that he signed. I don't think a man with arrogance and ego will ever do that.
Fact, there are more Democrat Senators up for re-election in 2012 and only 6 Republicans.
Fact, if you think the Tea Party movement is dead, think again!
MikeN| 11.4.10 @ 12:09AM
Dump Lieberman. Then a lefty gets elected, who is more likely to lose in 2018.
George LeMieux in Florida is good enough.
How about MIchael Steele in Maryland again?
Matt X| 11.4.10 @ 12:18AM
DE is a retard state. See Joe Biden. See Coons. :)
Matt X| 11.4.10 @ 12:38AM
Let's face it, O'Donnel lost because the retard liberals in DE only care about her questioning of the evolution theory and her belief that it should be left up to local school board to decide if evolution is taugh in high school. THe economy is in the toilet and a lot of Democrats are out of work, but what matters to them is that some politician dare question Darwinism.
Bo| 11.4.10 @ 2:10PM
Yep, that's the only reason O'Donnell lost. You nailed it. If it weren't for the topic of "Darwinism" she'd have won 100% of the vote.
Cyrus | 11.12.10 @ 5:53AM
No, O'Donnel lost because the GOP establishment decided to do it. They never supported her financially and didn't make a stink when in the last final 48 hours before the election the media forgot to run her ad on the air. I think that is what you call a sabotage!
The GOP establishment wanted the House. They didn't care about the Senate. The GOP establishment knew they will win seats and narrow the playing field. They are expecting a take over in 2012 like the Democrats did in 2006 and 2008.
Siegfried X| 11.4.10 @ 7:02AM
"Connecticut: Leave Joe Lieberman alone. He's a good man."
That's proof that neo-cons like Quin and American Spectator are just war Democrats. They'll support Democrats like Lieberman as long as those Democrats are pro-war.
Almost all of Quin's candidates are far left establishment Republican RINOs too.
gearjammer| 11.4.10 @ 10:21AM
Go back to 2009. The 2 winners in NJ and VA-try to find people like them to run in these purple or blue states. Do not be afraid of a Hispanic, or black candidate, perhaps another of Indian decent. The field is wide open=the sky is the limit. No dopes or nasties or those with foot and mouth syndrome. And, prepare now for LATE HITS !
Oldefarte| 11.4.10 @ 1:06PM
I'm disappointed that Angle didn't beat Reid, but that was probably a long shot at best [even though she did a hell of a job running against that corrupt old beedyeyed fart]; that Whitman and Fiorina didn't beat Brown and Boxer, but California is such a looney-tune liberal bastion that their loss should have been predictable [as O'Reilly said, it's ludicrous with that state $20billion in the hold defecit wise and they vote in some hippy/liberal like Brown when Whitman's business experience was needed to solve their financial problems]. Overall, I'm satisfied with the BEGINNING of this political overturn that was begun Tuesday. Next up, as McConnell stated is the defeat of the Harvard law-degreed MORON from Gansterland!!!!
Derek Leaberry| 11.4.10 @ 2:18PM
The author is engaging in some wishful thinking. 2012 is far off. None of us know what the political climate will be two years from now. What will the economy be like in 2012? How popular will President Obama be in 2012? How will the Republican House be perceived in 2012? Who will be the Republican nominee be in 2012? Will the American military be actively engaged in 2012?
Smirking Weasel| 11.4.10 @ 2:22PM
"...Leave Joe Lieberman alone..."
What idiotic crap and a great example of why there's not a dime's difference. Lieberman is a cultural and spending leftist-partial birth infanticide being the most obvious case. Too bad Quinny's mommy didn't abort him so we wouldn't have to see his cowardly and stupid kowtowing, most notably to the Muslofilth, but now including culturally depraved American leftists.
Bo| 11.4.10 @ 2:30PM
Klobuchar in Minnesota won't lose. She's the daughter of a famous sportswriter here. That matters in Minnesota. (Stupid, I know.) Plus, the GOP here has a very thin bench for statewide candidates who can win. The only one might be Jim Ramstad who's probably too moderate for a lot of you. The state GOP here needs some new blood like a Ron Johnson in Wisconsin to come forward.
caliGOP| 11.8.10 @ 12:22AM
Republicans and conservatives need focus on recruiting, and assisting, the right candidates for each seat. Jim DeMint may be happy remaining in the perpetual minority with his fire-branded conservatives representing largely Southern or Midwestern states, but the fact of the matter remains that unless you're in the majority, you can't accomplish anything. The GOP could've had a 50-50 Senate this year, had they nominated candidates that best fit the state's electorate and were seasoned and vetted candidates who wouldn't make rookie mistakes or act utterly incompetent (i.e. O'Donnell, Buck and Angle). Castle and Norton would have easily taken those two states. Easily. The National Party, and conservative or center-right folks from all over the country should not be seeking to purge the party and supporting primary challenges to sitting Senators (i.e. Snowe, Hatch, etc). The focus should be on knocking of Democrats and expanding on the GOP ranks. That being said:
California- The GOP only has a shot if it's an open seat. DiFi is too popular here, way more than Boxer and she trounced Carly last week.
Connecticut- Try and persuade Liebs to switch, and I mean really try RNC.
Delaware- Castle should be the Junior Senator already, perhaps he'd like to try again? I hope, for the sake of Delaware's credibility as a state they don't nominate Ms. O'Donnell again.
Florida- Jeb should run. He seems to be wading back into politics and this one would be in the bag if he wanted it. If not, perhaps Connie Mack?
Hawaii- Akaka or no Akaka, Linda Lingle should run. She is the only one who could take the seat and she'd add experience and diversity to the Senate Caucus.
Indiana- Lugar has already said he'll run again, if not then there is no shortage of GOPers standing by waiting to inherit the seat.
Maryland- Maybe Mary Kane? Maybe a successful Black GOPer that can add the crop of burgeoning diverse GOP candidates.
Michigan- Stabenow is week and MI just went overwhelmingly Republican. Hoekstra? Maybe. I've read that Terri Lynn Land is preparing to run, but she seems like a week candidate. What about Candice Miller? She seems like someone the party has identified as having real potential. Or perhaps Mike Cox?
Minnesota- Norm Coleman should try again, or Erik Paulsen. By all means avoid Michele Bachmann.
Missouri- I've heard numerous reports that Talent wants a rematch. I'm always hesitant of rematches and I think "new blood" may need to be cultivated. Sarah Steeleman? She could placate the Tea Partiers, though that should never be a concern frankly. Who else could the state turn to?
Montana- Danny Rehlberg could beat Tester. Easily. Make him run.
New York- Gillibrand is beatable by 2012 Obama will no doubt trounce our candidate in the state, so it'll have to be a big name (i.e. Giuliani) though i like Susan Molinari a lot better than Rudy. She seems more of a workhorse while he is definitely a showhorse, or would be in DC.
North Dakota- The Dakotas are turning really red. I think Berg looks too opportunistic if he runs again. What about Adam Hamm, he'd bring Insurance expertise to the Senate.
Ohio- I've heard that Mary Taylor wants to run against Brown, and now as the Lt. Gov, she'd have already increased her statewide recognition and have, most likely, Kasich and Portman's support. I think she's an intelligent young voice for the GOP.
Pennsylvania- Would Jim Gerlach take on Casey? He's got the right moderate/center-right mindset to carry PA in what will be a tougher environment than this year, since Obama will be on the ticket in '12.
Virginia- George Allen has first right of refusal and, hopefully, he'll have adapted to the age of YouTube and Facebook this time around.
Washington- Dave Reichert could challenge Cantwell and be a better fit for the state politically, though Cathy McMorris-Rodgers seems more likely to run since she is known to have larger aspirations than just the House.
West Virginia- If Manchin won't switch (which I don't think he will) Then Shelley Moore Capito is the only obvious choice. This could be one of the rare instances where Obama running atop the ticket would actually help the GOP. The party already loves her, that's an open secret.
Wisconsin- Paul Ryan has the knowledge to bury any DEM in a debate or policy discussion, a la Kirk vs. Giannoulis this year.