November 2, 2010

Election 2010: What to Watch For at 6 p.m.

Flickr/<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dennis_vu/4625888796/sizes/z/in/photostream/">Dennis.Vu</a> (<a href="http://www.creativecommons.org" target="_blank">Creative Commons</a>).

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Election Day H-Hour is a little over an hour away. The first poll closings are in Indiana and Kentucky at 6 p.m. Here’s what to watch for:

IN-9: This is the race to watch in the 6 p.m. hour. If Dem Baron Hill holds on against Republican Todd Young, his party could be in for a less painful night than expected.

KY-6: Blue Dog Ben Chandler is in a similar boat to Hill. If this one is close or goes to Republican Andy Barr, look for Republicans to win 60 seats or more.

IN-2: Joe Donnelly, a key member of the Bart Stupak’s bloc of anti-abortion Dems, faces a stiff challenge in this northern Indiana district. If he loses, the Stupak bloc could end up nearly extinct in the next Congress.

IN-8: Senate candidate Brad Ellsworth’s old district should be a very easy pickup for Republicans. If it’s even close, Dems are doing way better than the polls predicted.

KY-3: This district, represented by Dem John Yarmuth, shouldn’t even be on the radar for the GOP. If Republican Todd Lally wins here, Dems could be headed for an unprecedented rout.

Senate: GOPers Dan Coats in Indiana and Rand Paul in Kentucky should win easily. Expect these races to be called early.

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WE'LL BE BLUNT

It is astonishingly hard keeping a newsroom afloat these days, and we need to raise $253,000 in online donations quickly, by October 7.

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Readers also told us to just give it to you straight when we need to ask for your support, and seeing how matter-of-factly explaining our inner workings, our challenges and finances, can bring more of you in has been a real silver lining. So our online membership lead, Brian, lays it all out for you in his personal, insider account (that literally puts his skin in the game!) of how urgent things are right now.

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