Cook Report: Senate 2006

[Fmr. Gov. NickG]

He has the Jeffords seat as a Toss-up?  That's wild.  A lot of these seats are hard to rate without knowing who is running.  Why is Washington rated Lean Dem and North Dakota likely Dem?  It seem to me both are Toss-ups if the Republicans get their best candidate, and Likely Dem if they don't.  Maybe the same is true with Michigan, but I'm not really sure who that "best candidate" would be there.

[Fmr. Gov. NickG]

Also, have you seen his Gov ratings?  He has Blagojevich as Solid Dem, which I have trouble buying seeing as how his approval ratings are terrible.  And I think VA at least merits a "Lean GOP" right now.  And NY should DEFINITELY be "Lean Dem" if not "Likely Dem".   I think Cook REALLY dislikes projecting pick-ups early in the cycle, no matter how obvious they may be.

[Fmr. Gov. NickG]

even Ensign are beatable with the Democratic top candidates.

I hope the candidate you're thinking of here isn't Oscar Goodman.  Of course, I'm not sure who else it would be.  Goodman has no chance, and really doesn't deserve one.  From what I can tell, he's one of the most despicable characters to hold public office.  He has recently taken a side job as a photographer for Playboy.  At least that's much more respectable than his former profession as attorney for mafia hit men.

And check out this recent news story:
     Las Vegas Review-Journal's Morrison writes that Mayor Oscar Goodman "took time out from his busy schedule Thursday to insult a room full of people who try to help the homeless." Goodman called the homeless advocates "'enablers' who, by feeding the homeless sandwiches and giving them water, 'enable them to remain homeless.'" Goodman "also said he was not optimistic about helping the homeless because of his personal experience with one homeless man who doesn't want any help. The man is known on the streets as Smiley. ... It's pretty obvious he is mentally ill." Morrison calls Goodman "the man with the big glass of gin surrounded by his own enablers (called city employees), who drive for him so he won't get a DUI" (6/20).