// BEGIN editorial data
 var i = 0;
var Pol_races_to_watch = new Array();
Pol_races_to_watch.ID = "Pol_races_to_watch";
Pol_races_to_watch.ID_WB = 27440612;
Pol_races_to_watch.sPubDate = "10/29/2008 8:37:09 PM GMT";
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Pol_races_to_watch.appHeader = "More on races to watch";
Pol_races_to_watch.appDeck = "What to look for down ballot.";
Pol_races_to_watch.appFooter = "Source: Msnbc.com, NBC News";
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Pol_races_to_watch[i++] = new Array("","Senate","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
Pol_races_to_watch[i-1].body = "Thirty-five Senate seats are being contested &#150; 23 Republican and 12 Democratic.<p>Democrats currently have a 51-49 edge in the Senate, thanks to two Independents who caucus with the Dems (Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut).<p>According to the latest polls, Democrats have solid leads in several races and they predict they will pick up at least a half a dozen seats, if not more. <p>But the real prize for the Democrats would be securing a filibuster-proof, 60-seat majority.<p>No president has enjoyed a filibuster-proof Senate majority (with his own party) since Jimmy Carter in 1977.<p>Even if the Democrats can't get to 60, many believe they would still be in strong shape to deal with filibusters if they can move their total into the high 50s.";

Pol_races_to_watch[i++] = new Array("","House","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "Kevin Kane", "WireImage", "110", "83", "", "", "", "", "");
Pol_races_to_watch[i-1].body = "Representatives are elected every two years so all 435 House seats are decided on Election Day (although this year two seats in Louisiana have had to delay their Election Day due to a hurricane).<p>In the current Congress, Democrats have 235 seats, Republicans have 199. There is one vacancy (Stephanie Tubbs-Jones&#146; seat in Ohio).<p>The Republicans have 29 open seats to defend, while the Democrats have only seven.<p>Democrats will pick up seats this time around; the only question is, how many?<p>In addition to some hotly contested races, watch for some &#147;safe&#148; races for House leaders (Nancy Pelosi, Steny Hoyer and John Boehner). All appear to be in safe seats, despite Congress' dismal approval rating.<p>";

Pol_races_to_watch[i++] = new Array("","Governors races","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "110", "83", "", "", "", "", "");
Pol_races_to_watch[i-1].body = "Although most eyes will be focused on the presidential and congressional races, there are a handful of gubernatorial contests of note. These races are important nationally in part because winners will be in office during congressional and legislative redistricting and reapportionment, when governors play a role.<p>National Republicans are publicly predicting a 16-seat gain in governorships between now and 2010. Democrats claim the GOP is laying plans to use these governorships to gerrymander an additional 30 House seats.<p>There will be 38 governors' races between 2009 and 2010.";

	// END editorial data