Mitch McConnell isn't feeling very optimistic about 2008.
“The numbers are against us,” he told reporters at a Capitol newsconference, noting that 22 Republicans and just 12 Democrats are up forre-election this cycle. “It would take an extraordinarily good day toget back up to 50. So our goal is to stay roughly where we are."
With so many Republicans up for re-election, McConnell's goal isn't even to hold his 49. It's to stay roughly where he is. We're treated to the sweet spectacle of a GOP Senate leader so close to a majority, and still unable to raise donors' hopes of Republican control.
And that's why nobody should smile on Hillary's comment that "I want to have universal health care coverage by the end of my second term." Her hypothetical second term happens after the 2012 elections, when Democrats will have to defend a whopping 24 seats while attacking only 9, an even worse schedule than McConnell faces today. How will waiting win us more Senate votes than we're likely to lose then? (And what if she doesn't win a second term?) I don't know whether to doubt Hillary's strategic grasp on how to pass universal coverage, or her desire to do so.
