Could passing a widely disliked bailout package help Democrats get to 59 Senate seats?
Republicans Ted Stevens, John Sununu, Gordon Smith, Elizabeth Dole, Norm Coleman, and Mitch McConnell are all at varying degrees of vulnerability in their Senate campaigns. No Democratic Senate incumbents are facing equally severe challenges. The Senate GOP mostly backs the bailout package -- nutjobs in the House, led by Mike Pence, have been the main opposition.
Suppose that the bailout package passes with the support of these Republican Senators, and remains unpopular enough to be used by all challengers as a club against incumbents who voted for it. That weakens the position of the GOP incumbents listed above. Beat them all, and you've got 59.
