Other Expert Predictions: 2008 Senate Races

2008 Senate race ratings for key 2008 races, provided by a range of professional election-watchers and - each category - listed alphabetically by state. Political analysts from each of our four major sources agree that some of these races are long-shots for the Democratic candidates. But if American politics teaches us anything, no race is ever a guarantee.

Click here for Council for a Livable World's own review of key 2008 Senate races.
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Top Tier Senate Races

Alaska

Incumbent Ted Stevens (R) vs. Mark Begich (D)
Cook Political Report: Leans Democrat
Congressional Quarterly: Leans Democrat
Larry Sabato's Crystal Ball: Leans Democrat
Rothenberg Political Report: Leans Democrat

Colorado

OPEN (Allard-R): Bob Schaffer (R) vs. Mark Udall (D)*
Cook Political Report: Toss-up
Congressional Quarterly: Leans Democrat
Larry Sabato's Crystal Ball: Leans Democrat
Rothenberg Political Report: Leans Democrat

Louisiana

Incumbent Mary Landrieu (D) vs. John Kennedy (R)
Cook Political Report: Leans Democrat
Congressional Quarterly: Leans Democrat
Larry Sabato's Crystal Ball: Leans Democrat
Rothenberg Political Report: Narrow Republican advantage

Maine

Incumbent Susan Collins (R) vs. Tom Allen (D)*
Cook Political Report: Leans Republican
Congressional Quarterly: Leans Republican
Larry Sabato's Crystal Ball: Leans Republican
Rothenberg Political Report: Clear Republican advantage

Minnesota

Incumbent Norm Coleman (R) vs. Al Franken (D)* vs. Dean Barkley (I)
Cook Political Report: Toss-up
Congressional Quarterly: No Clear Favorite
Larry Sabato's Crystal Ball: Leans Republican
Rothenberg Political Report: Toss-up

Mississippi

Incumbent Roger Wicker (R) vs. Ronnie Musgrove (D)
Cook Political Report: Toss-up
Congressional Quarterly: No clear favorite
Larry Sabato's Crystal Ball: Leans Republican
Rothenberg Political Report: Narrow Republican advantage

New Hampshire

Incumbent John Sununu (R) vs. Jeanne Shaheen (D)*
Cook Political Report: Toss-up
Congressional Quarterly: Leans Democrat
Larry Sabato's Crystal Ball: Leans Democrat
Rothenberg Political Report: Leans Democrat

New Jersey

Incumbent Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D)* vs. Richard Zimmer (R)
Cook Political Report: Solid Democrat
Congressional Quarterly: Democrat favored
Larry Sabato's Crystal Ball: Solid Democrat
Rothenberg Political Report: Safe Democrat

New Mexico

OPEN (Domenici - R): Steve Pearce (R) vs. Tom Udall (D)
Cook Political Report: Leans Democrat
Congressional Quarterly: Democrat Favored
Larry Sabato's Crystal Ball: Leans Democrat
Rothenberg Political Report: Likely Democrat

Oregon

Incumbent Gordon Smith (R) vs. Jeff Merkley (D)*
Cook Political Report: Toss-up
Congressional Quarterly: No clear favorite
Larry Sabato's Crystal Ball: Leans Republican
Rothenberg Political Report: Leans Democrat

Virginia

OPEN (Warner - R): Jim Gilmore (R) vs. Mark Warner (D)
Cook Political Report: Likely Democrat
Congressional Quarterly: Safe Democrat
Larry Sabato's Crystal Ball: Likely Democrat
Rothenberg Political Report: Likely Democrat

Potentially Close Contests

Idaho

OPEN (Craig): Jim Risch (R) vs. Larry LaRocco (D)
Cook Political Report: Solid Republican
Congressional Quarterly: Safe Republican
Larry Sabato's Crystal Ball: Solid Republican
Rothenberg Political Report: Safe Republican

Kansas

Incumbent Sen. Pat Roberts (R) vs. Jim Slattery (D)
Cook Political Report: Solid Republican
Congressional Quarterly: Republican favored
Larry Sabato's Crystal Ball: Solid Republican
Rothenberg Political Report: Safe Republican

Kentucky

Incumbent Sen. Mitch McConnell (R) vs. Bruce Lunsford (D)
Cook Political Report: Leans Republican
Congressional Quarterly: Leans Republican
Larry Sabato's Crystal Ball: Solid Republican
Rothenberg Political Report: Narrow Republican advantage

Nebraska

OPEN (Hagel): Mike Johanns (R) vs. Scott Kleeb (D)
Cook Political Report: Likely Republican
Congressional Quarterly: Republican favored
Larry Sabato's Crystal Ball: Solid Republican
Rothenberg Political Report: Safe Republican

North Carolina

Incumbent Sen. Elizabeth Dole (R) vs. Kay Hagan (D)
Cook Political Report: Toss-up
Congressional Quarterly: Toss-up
Larry Sabato's Crystal Ball: Leans Republican
Rothenberg Political Report: Leans Democrat

Oklahoma

Incumbent Sen. Jim Inhofe (R) vs. Andy Rice (D)
Cook Political Report: Likely Republican
Congressional Quarterly: Republican favored
Larry Sabato's Crystal Ball: Solid Republican
Rothenberg Political Report: Safe Republican

South Dakota

Incumbent Tim Johnson (D)* vs. Joel Dykstra (R)
Cook Political Report: Likely Democrat
Congressional Quarterly: Safe Democrat
Larry Sabato's Crystal Ball: Solid Democrat
Rothenberg Political Report: Safe Democrat

Texas

Incumbent Sen. John Cornyn (R) vs. Rick Noriega (D)
Cook Political Report: Solid Republican
Congressional Quarterly: Republican favored
Larry Sabato's Crystal Ball: Solid Republican
Rothenberg Political Report: Safe Republican

* Candidate has been endorsed by Council for a Livable World

Last Updated

Cook Political Report: ongoing, updated October 16, 2008
Congressional Quarterly: ongoing, updated October 16, 2008
Larry Sabato's Crystal Ball: ongoing, updated October 16, 2008
Rothenberg Political Report: ongoing, updated October 16, 2008