Adding former Indiana Sen. Evan Bayh to the list of Democratic candidates for the Senate has boosted the state into the top three of those likely to flip from Republican to Democrat, according to Hotline's new Senate power rankings list.
Bayh's leftover war chest, totaling almost $10 million, as well as his name recognition, are adding to Democrats chances in Indiana, reports The National Journal, and should party nominee Hillary Clinton win the White House, Democrats will have one more seat that will need to flip.
The following Republicans were ranked by the possibility they could be flipped:
1. Sen. Mark Kirk, Illinois: One of the most outspoken anti-Trump senators is facing a Democratic lean in his state, but still hopes to benefit from President Barack Obama not being on the ticket.
2. Sen. Ron Johnson, Wisconsin: former Democratic Sen Ross Feingold leads by 11 points of likely voters in a new Marquette Law School poll.
3. Indiana: Open, with Republican Sen. Dan Coats Retiring: Republicans nominated Rep. Todd Young, but Bayh replaced former Rep. Baron Hill, bringing along a lobbying resume that could harm him, if there was more time.
4. Sen. Kelly Ayotte, New Hampshire: She trails Democratic Gov. Maggie Hassan by 10 points as Trump's support among the state's Republicans has dropped to 63 percent. Ayotte may have to separate herself completely from Trump to bring voters back for herself.
5. Sen. Pat Toomey, Pennsylvania: Toomey is receiving a great deal of outside help and is not running against a former officeholder. However, Trump's numbers are down by at least 10 points in the state's four most recent polls, leaving Demoocrat Katie McGinty with an advantage.
6. Nevada: Open, with Sen. Harry Reid Retiring: Republican Rep. Joe Heck faces Democratic challenger former state Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto, however, Democrats are already targeting the state's Latino population.
7. Sen. Richard Burr, North Carolina: Former state Rep. Deborah Ross has outraised Burr two quarters in a row, and the Clinton campaign has made North Carolina a key priority.
8. Sen. Rob Portman, Ohio: Both Portman and Democratic challenger Ted Strickland, a former state governor and U.S representative, are facing attacks, but Portland is pulling ahead in the polls.
9. Sen. Marco Rubio, Florida: The primary is not until Aug. 30, but Rubio is most likely to face Democratic Rep. Patrick Murphy. Rubio's entry into the race has lowered the chances of a Democratic flip.
10. Sen. Roy Blunt, Missouri and Sen. John McCain, Arizona (tied): Missouri appears less likely to flip, but Republicans are concerned about Blunt against Missouri Secretary of State Jason Kander. McCain, meanwhile, is still fighting with Trump, and dual races against former state Sen. Kelli Ward and Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick are splitting his resources.
Related stories:
Sandy Fitzgerald ✉
Sandy Fitzgerald has more than three decades in journalism and serves as a general assignment writer for Newsmax covering news, media, and politics.
© 2024 Newsmax. All rights reserved.