http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2008/08/16/politics/p080349D21.DTLForces align against Republicans in Senate races
By JULIE HIRSCHFELD DAVIS, Associated Press Writer
Saturday, August 16, 2008
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(08-16) 08:03 PDT WASHINGTON, (AP) --
Even the top Republican in charge of the party's Senate campaigns concedes that the GOP will lose seats this year — the only question is how many.
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With President Bush's ratings at rock-bottom, fewer Republicans signing up to vote, and voters nationally gravitating toward Democrats in public polls, the GOP is bracing for defeats in November that will expand Democrats' now razor-thin 51-49 majority in the Senate.
Democrats have solid chances of winning five seats, according to strategists in both parties and public polls, and realistic shots at picking off another three to five Republican senators. Republicans have only one good opportunity for replacing a Democrat, in Louisiana.