Senate surprise: Democrats pulling ahead in close races
By Susan Milligan, Globe Staff, 4/11/2004
WASHINGTON -- Unexpected retirements and divisive Republican primary races have turned the battle for control of the US Senate into a tossup, with November's elections shaping up as another series of excruciatingly tight contests to fill the closely divided chamber, according to campaign officials in both parties.
Democrats, who less than a year ago faced dim chances of overcoming the GOP's 51-48 majority, now lead in the polls in all seven competitive races in which head-to-head public polling has been done, a trend that would produce a gain of three Democratic seats, in Oklahoma, Colorado, and Alaska.
"Six months ago, [Republicans] told me they would hit 55" seats, Sabato said. "Now the challenge for them is just holding on."
Republican strategist Bill McInturff added: "I still think on balance the Republicans are more likely to retain the Senate," but the Alaska, Oklahoma, Illinois, and Colorado races "at least allow the Democrats to talk credibly about the Senate being more up for grabs than we thought."
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