With the Associated Press calling West Virginia for Gov. Joe Manchin and Connecticut for Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, we can safely say that Democrats will maintain their hold on the Senate. Nate Silver gives the GOP a 2 percent chance of winning a Senate majority, which sounds about right. With Delaware in safe Democratic hands -- thanks largely to Christine O'Donnell -- Republicans needed wins in West Virginia, Connecticut, and California to take the Senate. Now that Democrats can claim two of their three most vulnerable seats, it's virtually impossible for a GOP Senate majority, barring some stunning upset.
That said, we don't know the final composition of the Senate, and if Democrats walk away with a slim majority, there's a real chance of defection from a few of their more conservative and independent-minded members.
-- Jamelle Bouie
