R/D/D make sense on paper, but I don't get it considering the context of 18. Let's say that year is R+4. That's 56, so losing all of Tillis, Gardner, and Ernst, AND keeping Shaheen's seat, would STILL result in only 53. At that point, you have to wait for 2022 and pray to God Hassan survives without Day and you can pick up any of the competitives from this year.
Well I think it will be only +2 R in 2018 also 2018 the R's are defending 24 seats to 9
McCaskill and Donnelly are DOA. Heitkamp, if she accepts Ag, will make it R+3. Only 2 R seats are remotely competitive in 2018.
I don't think Heitkamp will accept, but let's say she does, or she loses anyway along with Donnelly and McCaskill. Democrats beat Heller and Flake, that's R+1. 2020, Democrats take the presidency and take NC, CO, and one of GA/IA/AK/MT/ME/whatever. Not likely, but possible.
However I think we probably lose 2022 in that case, unless the gains in 2020 are huge.