Not yet time to celebrate

I'm in the Rockefeller common room right now, and there is growing optimism among my Democratic friends. I think this is at least premature, and possibly misplaced. Here's why:

1) Senate control is far from secure. The Dems have picked off all the low hanging fruit but haven't cracked the tough nuts. The GOP built a firewall around VA, MO, and TN, and is leading in all three. Their lead is currently 10 in MO and 5 in TN. With almost all the votes counted in VA, Allen appears to have eked out a narrow victory. If the Dems lose all three, the best they can legitimtaely hope for is 49 seats, and that requires Burns to lose.

2) Targeted House races are not going overwhelmingly Democratic and are still neck and neck. Heck, even Mark Foley's seat is still within 1000 votes, and no one expected the Republicans to hold that one. While the Dems may win all the tossups, that is by no means assured. We have a long night in front of us people, and nothing is decided yet.

--Barry Caro