Republicans to Lean On

The 9 Republican senators listed below represent states that went Democratic in the last presidential election. Because the ground has shifted under them, they may be vulnerable to pressure from their constituents to support the new administration’s recovery plan.

Burr, Richard - North Carolina

Martinez, Mel – Florida

Specter, Arlen – Pennsylvania

Grassley, Chuck – Iowa

Voinovich, George, V. – Ohio

Snowe, Olympia, J. - Main

Ensign, John - Nevada

Collins, Susan, M. – Maine

Lugar, Richard, G. - Indiana

Burr and Martinez may be particularly vulnerable; both must go back to the voters when their current and (importantly) their first terms end in 2011. Ditto for second-termer Voinovich. Specter and Grassley, both of whom came in with Regan in 1980, also go back to the voters in 2011 but, as 4th termers, they’re probably less worried. Ensin, Snowe, and Collins are all in their second terms, but don’t face re-election until 2013 at the earliest. Dick Lugar is solid in his 6th term; he came in under Ford, and got re-elected with 87% of the vote.

If you have friends living in Florida and North Carolina, you may wish to alert them.