The panel on Friday’s “McLaughlin Group” predicted the Republican Party will gain a net total of seven seats in the US Senate in the upcoming elections.
The discussion started with the group taking Republican pick-ups in Montana, South Dakota, and West Virginia as givens and then went to other, closer races.
Host John McLaughlin was the most optimistic about the Republican’s chances, predicting Republican wins in every Senate race but Kansas.
Columnist Pat Buchanan agreed with McLaughlin on every seat but Georgia, which he said would go to Democrat Michelle Nunn.
US News and World Report Chairman and Editor-in-Chief and publisher of The New York Daily News, Mort Zuckerman predicted the Republicans will win seven seats in total, by picking up Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, Louisiana, and North Carolina, while losing Kansas and Georgia.
Columnist Clarence Page and The Daily Beast’s Eleanor Clift were not as bullish on the GOP’s chances, predicting that Republicans will not gain a majority in the Senate. Clift only gave Republicans wins in Arkansas and Iowa (although she admitted she was predicting Democrat Alison Grimes will win in KY based on her desire to Grimes win) for a net gain of two Republican Senate seats. Page was slightly more generous to the Republicans, picking GOP wins in Alaska, Arkansas, Iowa, and Kentucky for a net gain of 4 GOP Senate seats.
All told, the panel’s votes had Republicans gaining seats in Alaska Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, Louisiana, and North Carolina, while losing seats in Georgia and Kansas for a net gain of seven.
Follow Ian Hanchett on Twitter @IanHanchett
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