Tuesday July 8, 2008; 1:37 p.m. EDT
Dems' Senate Prospects Look Bleak in 2004

For Democrats hoping to regain the U.S. Senate in next year's
presidential election, the prospects look bleak.

In Georgia, for instance, where Democratic Sen. Max Cleland went down
to defeat in last year's contest, fellow Democrat, Sen. Zell Miller,
has announced his retirement. And while Georgia Republicans are lining
up to replace him, there's no prominent Democrat on the horizon who
could save the seat for his party.

"I think there is an excellent opportunity for a Republican to become
the next United States senator from Georgia," state Representative Mac
Collins told the New York Times.

There could be even more trouble for Dems in states like South
Carolina, where incumbent warhorse Sen. Fritz Hollings has hinted he
may be ready to pack it in.

And the presidential contest may take its toll among
candidate-Senators like John Edwards and Bob Graham, who are also up
for reelection. Notes the Times, "Their decisions on whether to seek
reelection to the Senate will help determine how many open seats
Democrats will have to defend in a region where President Bush is
riding high."

The law of averages is also working against Democrats in the 2004
race. While the GOP has 15 seats to defend, Democrats have to wage
reelection fights for 19 incumbents. And all this in the era of
campaign finance reform, which has crippled the Democratic National
Committee's ability to raise cash legally.

"It is kind of a perfect storm coming together for the Democrats, and
it could get ugly for them," political analyst Stuart Rothenberg told
the Times.

http://newsmax.com/showinsidecover.s...003/7/8/134052