A Republican surge in the Senate?

I’ve been scoffing at the idea of a Republican surge in the House, but we’re now beginning to see the outline of a big GOP opening in the U.S. Senate.

The opening is created by a large slate of Dems expected to retire

Democrats from North Dakota and Connecticut are expected to step aside this year, and not seek re-election.

Democrats are also seen as at least somewhat vulnerable in Delaware, Illinois and New York, thanks to the political musical chairs that followed Barack Obama’s election.

Finally, Senate majority leader Harry Reid from Nevada is seen as vulnerable, though Republicans have struggled to recruit a top-tier challenger.

The chances of a GOP takeover are slight, but the likelihood that Democrats will retain a 60-seat filibuster proof coalition now appears very slim indeed.

Which means that the pressure on the White House to advance their agenda will intensify over these final eleven months of Democratic supremacy.

Tags: election10