GOP Targets Nelson, Conrad for Senate Gains

Republicans fell only three seats short of regaining control of the Senate in last month’s elections. So the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) is honing in on five key races to ensure the GOP achieves a majority in 2012, The Hill reports.

There is “fertile ground” for Republican gains in Montana, Virginia, Nebraska, Florida and North Dakota, NRSC Executive Director Ron Jesmer says in an interview with CNN.com.

Moderate Democratic Sen. Ben Nelson of Nebraska is in "serious trouble and kind of in a league of his own," he says. Senate Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad, D-N.D., also "is in a lot of trouble," Jesmer says. "There are other states where depending on if one candidate runs, there could be some other good challenges."