A quick update: Arkansas Congressman Marion Berry will retire. Berry (D), not to be confused with the pharmacologically enthusiastic ex-mayor of DC, has announced that he will not seek an eighth term in the House, opening up yet another seat vulnerable to GOP takeover.
Politico has more and Berry's official press release is here.
Additionally, Beau Biden will not face Mike Castle for his father's open Senate seat, opening the door for a Republican Senate gain in Delaware. Instead, Biden will run for reelection as Attorney General, apparently biding (or should we say Biden?) his time before jumping to the national stage.
Taken together, these announcements suggest widespread Democratic unease. More importantly, they may spark Republican fundraising, which spent much of 2009 in the sink.
Clearly, results from Massachusetts are changing the calculus for a number of prospective candidates. Sean Trende over at RCP has announced that both the House and the Senate could be in play come November. While such prognostication seems premature, we're willing to bet that things will get increasingly exciting as primary season approaches. Handicapping the races beforehand is basically alchemy...but that doesn't mean we won't try.
UPDATE: Here's some seriously wishful thinking from Christopher Beam at Slate. Democrats would be better served using their energy to circle the wagons rather than rationalizing like this. I'm reminded of the recrimination game that began in Massachusetts even before Coakley lost.
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