2012 Senate Outlook Grim For Democrats

If you thought the political landscape in 2010 was bad for Democrats, wait till you see the terrain on which the 2012 Senate elections will be fought:

According to the Cook Political Report, there are currently 23 Democrats up for re-election compared to 10 Republicans.

Solid: These races are not considered competitive and are not likely to become closely contested.
Likely: These seats are not considered competitive at this point but have the potential to become engaged.
Lean: These are considered competitive races but one party has an advantage.
Toss Up: These are the most competitive races; either party has a good chance of winning.

DEMOCRATS | 23 HELD SEATS
SOLID D (9) Feinstein* (CA) Carper* (DE) Akaka* (HI) Cardin (MD) Klobuchar (MN) Menendez (NJ) Bingaman* (NM) Whitehouse (RI) Sanders (VT) Kohl* (WI)	LIKELY D (5) Stabenow (MI) Tester (MT) Conrad* (ND) Casey (PA) Cantwell (WA)	LEAN D (3) Lieberman* (CT) Nelson* (FL) McCaskill (MO) Brown (OH)	TOSS UP (3) Nelson* (NE) Webb* (VA) Manchin (WV)	LEAN R (0)	LIKELY R (0)	SOLID R (0)

REPUBLICANS | 10 HELD SEATS
SOLID D (0)	LIKELY D (0)	LEAN D (0)	TOSS UP (2) Brown (MA) Ensign* (NV)	LEAN R (0)	LIKELY R (1) Snowe* (ME)	SOLID R (7) Kyl* (AZ) Lugar (IN) Wicker (MS) Corker (TN) Hutchison* (TX) Hatch* (UT) Barrasso (WY)

* = potential retirement

Interestingly, the 2012 outlook in the U.S. House of Representatives is better, where of the Top 100 most competitive seats 43 favor Democrats and 57 favor Republicans. This analysis is still preliminary because all House seats will be redrawn in the 2011 redistricting.

hat/tip to Political Wire