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Larry Sabato, director of the University of Virginia’s Center for Politics and one of the most widely respected political analysts in the country, has come out with his final predictions for the 2014 midterms, and he predicts a good night for Republicans. In his “Crystal Ball” picks, Sabato see an 8-seat pick-up for Republicans in the Senate, which would give them a 2-seat majority.

So where’s the wave? This is President Obama’s sixth-year-itch election. The map of states with contested Senate seats could hardly be better from the Republicans’ vantage point. And the breaks this year—strong candidates, avoidance of damaging gaffes, issues such as Obamacare and immigration that stir the party base—have mainly gone the GOP’s way, very unlike 2012

The Tea Party's failure to knock off long-time Mississippi GOP Sen. Thad Cochran has depressed supporters, but the tight race not only showed that the movement is alive, but also that it is here to stay, according to the University of Virginia's Center for Politics. In a new analysis of the race between Cochran and state Sen. Chris McDaniel, the U.Va. political team, headed by Larry Sabato, found that competing ably with the establishment is a strong indicator that the Tea Party itself is become more established and a force that GOP leaders are going to have to deal with....

In our first ranking of the very large and very unsettled 2016 Republican presidential field back in April of last year, we decided to not even include the name of one of the brightest stars in the GOP universe: Jeb Bush. We just didnÂ’t think, at the time, that the former Florida governor and brother and son of presidents was all that interested in running.But during 2013 and into this new year, weÂ’ve gotten the sense, like many others, that things might be changing. So much so that we now consider Bush the leader of the field if he decides...

e are already at the point in this prematurely unfolding 2016 presidential campaign when a glance down the list of prospective candidates can cause most observers to wince. As that seductive and sultry crooner Peggy Lee once sang, “Is that all there is?” At the U.Va. Crystal Ball, we currently have 11 Republicans and nine Democrats as probable or possible presidential contenders. The Democrats have fewer and more tentative contenders because of the paralyzing gravitational pull of “Planet Hillary,” as the New York Times Magazine described the Clinton operation. The former secretary of state is a kind of massive Jupiter...

With a slight, unexpected lift provided by Hurricane Sandy, Mother Nature’s October surprise, President Barack Obama appears poised to win his second term tomorrow. Our final Electoral College projection has the president winning the key swing states of Colorado, Iowa, Nevada, New Hampshire, Ohio and Wisconsin and topping Mitt Romney, with 290 electoral votes. This has been a roller-coaster campaign, though very tight ever since Romney dramatically outshone Obama in the first debate in Denver on Oct. 3. Yet for a challenger to defeat an incumbent, the fates must be with the challenger again and again. Who could have imagined...

The boost for President Obama in polls following the Democratic National Convention is a “classic polling bounce” which will fade in a few weeks, University of Virginia political analyst Larry Sabato tells Newsmax. Sabato also says this year is the “last gasp” of four-day national conventions due to viewer disinterest. And he predicts that with few voters remaining undecided, the key to the November election will not be which side attracts swing voters but who energizes the base and gets out the vote.

Sabaoto - Mr. Balanced - just got it handed to him by O"Reilly.

On the May 23, 2012 addition of Fox & Friends, Larry Sabato advises Mitt Romney NOT to select a conservative running mate because "Obama has already united the base". This is the kind of disrespect the conservative majority receives from these leftist hi-jackers. It is getting worse, not better. So the choice this Fall is between worshipping The Beast or The Anti-Christ. Some choice... (my video comment)

University of Virginia political guru Dr. Larry J. Sabato tells Newsmax that President Barack Obama’s re-election machine has launched an anti-Mitt Romney campaign that won’t stop attacking the former Massachusetts governor until Election Day 2012. “They are unloading on him early, and will never stop until Election Day,” Sabato tells Newsmax. “Now, if they can damage Romney early and get a weaker general election opponent like [former House Speaker] Newt Gingrich, they'll be delighted.” His remarks came as the Romney campaign fired back Wednesday at allegations they had distorted Obama’s words for a campaign ad running in New Hampshire. Romney's...

~ EXCERPT ~ This is how 2012 looks right now to elections guru Larry Sabato:Here is how the math works: Include the “Leans” states with the “Likely” and “Safe,” the numbers are as follows: 247 Democratic EVs,  180 Republican EVs, 111 Undecided. Just counting “Likely” and “Safe,” the numbers are as follows: 196 Democratic EVs, 170 Republican EVs, 172 Undecided.Of the tossup states, I would give the Rs IN (11), FL (29) and certainly at least one of VA, NC or OH. Some Leans D in the Upper Midwest are vulnerable, too.

Precisely two years from today, America will be inaugurating a president. But much sooner, the full-blown contest for the White House will begin. Just a year from now, we’ll all be watching presidential candidates slog through the snows of Iowa and New Hampshire (with sunny side trips to Nevada and South Carolina). There is only one guarantee: It will be a year full of tumult and unexpected developments. Presidential general elections are often far more predictable than the nominating contests. Why? The general elections are shaped by fundamental factors (shape of the economy, war and peace, scandal, presence of an...

Here is video of a great interview with University of Virginia Professor Larry Sabato on Fox Business Network, where he discussed the upcoming Midterm Elections. Sabato shared his final “Crystal Ball” predictions that the GOP will retake control of the House with a 55-seat net gain, and will gain 8-seats in the Senate – two short of what is needed for control there. But Sabato also said he believes the final margin in the House will likely be larger than the 55-seats he has predicted, and holds open the possibility the Republicans could take control of the U.S. Senate as...

The Crystal Ball’s Final Calls Larry J. Sabato, Director, U.Va. Center for Politics October 28th, 2010 The time has finally come in this two-year election cycle to make the final calls. Thanks to everyone who has helped us by providing background info, tips, private polls, observations, and constructive criticism. We operate on the proverbial shoestring and we’re outside the Beltway (a plus and a minus), so we can always use the assistance. Our tradition is that we make a prediction in every contest. We’ve been studying these states, districts, and candidates for many years, and we feel entitled! We’re proud...

House Race Changes Isaac Wood, House Race Editor October 14th, 2010 Polling, independent expenditures, and the general intensification of campaigns across the country provide us with new clues about the November outcome that is in store. Our overall view of the Republican wave remains the same, at a GOP net pick-up of 47 seats, but we now know more about which seats are truly endangered and where each side was just tilting at windmills. This week, we make 26 changes to our House ratings. Among our changes this week, there is a lone bright spot for Democrats. In OH-13, incumbent...

As Election Day nears, more of the House election picture comes into focus. While our overall view of the level of Republican gains remains unchanged at +47 seats, we are changing the ratings of many key races as the list of endangered seats, and their relative degrees of vulnerability, becomes clear. This week we are changing the ratings of 21 House races, all in the direction of the GOP, including 10 seats formerly listed as Toss-Ups that are now leaning into the Republican column. Toss-Up to Leans Republican (10 races) AZ-01 (Kirkpatrick-D): When an incumbent releases a month-old internal poll...

House Ratings Changes Isaac Wood, House Race Editor September 30th, 2010 As Election Day nears, more of the House election picture comes into focus. While our overall view of the level of Republican gains remains unchanged at +47 seats, we are changing the ratings of many key races as the list of endangered seats, and their relative degrees of vulnerability, becomes clear. This week we are changing the ratings of 21 House races, all in the direction of the GOP, including 10 seats formerly listed as Toss-Ups that are now leaning into the Republican column. Toss-Up to Leans Republican (10...

This weeks news:It was a YET ANOTHER BIG WEEK for our "Experts" with a total of 37 upgrades to the races on the KHR Master List. It was a 37 to ZERO shutout - none of the upgrades favored the Dems. There were major changes from Sabato and Cook, and a few from EP and RCP. CQ Politics and Rothenberg were silent.BUT THE REALLY BIG NEWS THIS WEEK was: Larry Sabato predicting a 47 seat pickup for the Republicans. Election Projection  followed a day later with a projection of a 41 seat pickup. We need 39 seats to retake the...

The Democrats’ self-proclaimed “Recovery Summer” has become a term of derision. Republicans have a good chance to win the House by picking up as many as 47 seats, net. If anything, we have been conservative in estimating the probable GOP House gains. In the Senate, we now believe the GOP will do a bit better than our long-time prediction of +7 seats. Republicans have an outside shot at winning full control (+10), but are more likely to end up with +8 (or maybe +9, at which point it will be interesting to see how senators such as Joseph Lieberman of...

Here is a video preview of the primary elections that take place today in 12 states. The GOP Primary in Nevada, and the Democrat runoff in Arkansas take center stage, along with California’s GOP primary. Larry Sabato says Sharron Angle is likely to be the GOP Nominee in Nevada. He also said Harry Reid is “in deep trouble,” not polling anywhere near the 50% that incumbents should be polling at a minimum, and will have a tough time winning in November. Democrat Sen. Blanche Lincoln looks likely to lose the runoff to Bill Halter in Arkansas.