The Race to Take Back the Senate

It's not enough to replace the President with a conservative (Republican) in 2012. We need to regain control in the Senate by at least a plurality. Adding to the challenge are the RINOS that cannot be trusted to vote conservative: Tim Scott, Olympia Snow, Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski and Richard Lugar. The place to start is in the primaries, where a strong Republican candidate can be put forth. Nine vulnerable states have Democrat Senators up for election. In four of those, Democrat incumbent Senators are retiring. In four other states, Republican incumbents are at risk. These are the important races:

STATE	INCUMBENT	CHALLENGERS	SITUATION	LINK
FL	Bill Nelson (D) - running	Eleven Republicans	Connie Mack IV (R) has announced and is ahead 43% to 39% with Adam Hasner (R) not far behind. This is now a swing state. Nelson still has the money.
HI	Daniel Akaka (D) - retiring	Linda Lingle (R), Mazie Hirono (D)	Traditionally a Democrat stronghold, but beginning to look vulnerable. Lingle beat Hirono for governor by 5%.
MI	Debbie Stabenow (D) - running	Six Republicans. Pete Hoekstra frontrunner	As of January 2012, Stabenow was ahead, but Hoekstra creeping up slowly. Stabenow has much more money.	Click
MO	Clair McCaskill (D) - running	Three Republicans - Sarah Steelman moving up.	McCaskill not popular but has the financing. 28% undecided voters. Steelman took the lead Nov. 2011.	Click
MT	Jon Tester (D) - running	US Rep. Denny Rehberg supported by Congressional Tea Party Caucus and Koch brothers.	Dead heat. Tester is heavily funded by lobbyists and banks. He is very beatable but is ahead in fundraising. He voted against the jobs bill.	Click
ND	Kent Conrad (D) - retiring	No Democrats running. US Rep. Rick Berg (R) is heavy favorite	Will go Republican.
NE	Ben Nelson (D) - retiring	Bob Kerrey, former (D) senator will not run. Jon Bruning (R), Don Stenberg (R) are front runners.	Nelson has announced his retirement. Bruning endorsed by Tea Party Express and the GOP establishment. Bruning needs the GOP nomination, has the money.	Click
NM	Jeff Bingaman (D) - retiring	3 Dems and 4 Republicans. Mark Heinrich (D) frontrunner. Former US Rep. Heather Wilson (R) is close behind.	We can win this seat with a good effort. Heinrich leads Wilson in funds.	Click
OH	Sherrod Brown (D) - running	Six Republicans. Josh Mandel heavy favorite, DeMint endorsed, USMC Vet.	Brown is ultra liberal supported by ACORN and Unions. We must win this one. Brown has the $$. Will be a huge challenge.	Click
VA	Jim Webb (R) - retiring	Former Gov. Tim Kaine (D) and former Sen. George Allen (R) in dead heat	Allen needs our help. DeMint could swing it, or perhaps FreedomWorks or Karl Rove
WI	Herbert Kohl (R) - retiring	Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D) has the $$. Former Gov Tommy Thompson (R) needs to win primary	A Democrat state, but we could hold it.
NV	Dean Heller (R) - running. Appointed to replace John Engle	Rep. Shelly Berkley (D) has the $$, supported by Harry Reid	We need to help Heller or could lose this seat.
MA	Scott Brown (R) - running	Brown is RINO (R). Eilzabeth Warren (D) gaining fast	Warren is dangerous elitist, formerly with Obama admin. Ultra Socialist, must be stopped.

You might wonder what we can do in states not your home. You can go to www.facebook.com/congress??, where the ?? is the two letter state designation, and post comments. You can contact friends or relatives in target states and encourage them to help. You can contribute directly to a candidate's campaign or to Jim DeMint's Senate Conservatives Fund, the Tea Party Express, or Karl Rove's  American Crossroads. If you think it's important for conservatives to dominate the Senate, you must blow the dust off your wallet and chip in a thousand  dollars or two. You'll get it back in the prosperity that will follow a GOP majority.

Up to date details are available by clicking on the word Click in the Link column.