Here are 10 observations about the results yesterday.
1). Utterly meangingless, but it looks like Obama will become the first President reelected with less votes than he won in his first election
2). The odds of us taking back the House in 2014 are very steep. In most midterm elections, the president's party loses seats, and those exceptions that exist (1998 and 2002) theyv'e only gained a couple. There's also never been a wave (i.e. 15 seats or more) favoring the presidents party in a midyear. It's impossible for me to imagine any scenario, short of a huge scandal, where we win back the House in two years. 2016 seems like a better bet.
3). On that note, I think its time for Nancy Pelosi to quit. She was a good speaker, but her reputation is too damaged among centrist voters we need to recapture the House.
4). Is anybody else amazed at the poor quality of the Republican Senate candidates? I'm not just talking Mourdock and Akin, but candidates that looked good on paper like Rehberg and Thompson and Berg were just disasters. It's pretty clear if the GOP hopes to win the Senate in 2014, they have to go beyond the "grumpy old man" candidate.
5). Jon Ralston is God, again. And I eagarly await adtnext's theories on how Heller squeezed out another term.
6). I would not make a bet on the Senate for 2014. We have lots of vulnerable seats. But we can't underestimate the Republicans ability to sabotage themselves.
7). Most gratifying wins: Heitkamp and Tester (neither of which I predicted), and Warren. On the House side, I was happy about Allen West, Joe Walsh and the New York wins.
8). Hardest losses: Richard Carmona, for sure. He made it closer than anyone thought he could. Steve King and Michelle Bachmann returning was also extremely disappointing, especially the later considering how close it was.(and come on Iowa, elect a woman to Congress already. Geez)
9). I'm amazed at how for we've come as a country on gay marriage in 10 years. Good for us!
10). I wasn't as excited as the rest of you about Jim Matheson. He's going to have to be super conservative the next two years to represent this district, and I'm not sure how much he will differ from Mia Love. I didn't like the woman's politics, but I did like her background. Still Matheson's a survivor - I'll give him that. And if Matheson mounts a strong challenge for the Senate, his win will definitely be worth it.