[ambrose]

Coburn will be like a conservative version of John McCain - a maverick who bucks the party leadersip, only he'll be doing so from the right.

[Sola Veritas]

"Coburn will be like a conservative version of John McCain - a maverick who bucks the party leadersip, only he'll be doing so from the right."

I think your assesment is right on the target. He won't let his fellow Republicans stop acting like Republicans when they get in the Senate. He has pledged to make getting President Bush's judical appointments voted on and approved. He will do so no matter who it ticks off, and the party (and country) will be better for it.

[Torie]

For what it's worth, here is my first cut at the Senate races that are at least 20% in play as switching. The projection is that the GOP gains 1.25 seats. (of course, Zel Miller was really a Pubbie anyway, so overall, it is a wash.) The Senate will stonewall Bush as successfully in the next round, as it did in this round. And yes, I think Coburn has an 80% chance of winning the General in Oklahoma.

	         Dem	GOP
Illinois	-1.00	
Colorado	-0.60	
Alaska	        -0.40	
Oklahoma	-0.20	
Louisiana		0.30
Florida		        0.40
S. Dakota		0.45
N. Carolina		0.50
S. Carolina		0.80
Georgia		        1.00

GOP gain		1.25