Dear Harry Reid: So Far, Good News

By Miss Kubelik

We cats love milk, and we're also eternal optimists. So we prefer to look at this photo — and the 2014 fight for the US Senate — as half full, not half empty. Here's why.

Two interesting stories recently caught our attention. First, a new poll shows Democratic Senator Kay Hagan of North Carolina, up for re-election next year, beating all comers by double digits. Second, 150 years after the Civil War, the Republican Party in Alaska is having one of its own.

Those are just two pieces of a puzzle that's taking shape for 2014 and which, at this point, we cats think looks pretty promising for our side of the aisle. Here, in no particular order, is a quick recap.

• North Carolina — Hagan is not only performing better than anyone imagined, but several likely strong GOP challengers have taken a pass on the race.
• Alaska — Democratic Senator Mark Begich is also racking up more impressive numbers than people thought. And, as noted, the Republican primary is a cluster-F-word.
• Kentucky — Democrat Alison Lundergan Grimes, after a rocky start, is running stronger than expected.
• Georgia — Michelle Nunn is moving forward, setting up her campaign, while the Republicans still have not coalesced around a candidate.
• Iowa — Still no credible GOP candidate for Tom Harkin's seat.
• Michigan — Ditto, for Carl Levin's seat.
• Minnesota — Ditto, for Al Franken's seat.
• Tennessee — Incumbent Republican Lamar Alexander, despite having raised a ton of early money and having won the endorsement of nearly every elected official, has a primary.
• Montana — The GOP primary field has been cleared, but Congressman Steve Daines still hasn't declared. What's the holdup? We cats think there's more here than Republicans are admitting to.
• Texas — John Cornyn, despite having prostituted himself to the teabaggers, has not made them happy. Watch this race.
• New Jersey — Cory Booker is going to demolish what's-his-name, who has further damaged the GOP's "reboot" with his hateful statements on gays and race.
• Arkansas and Louisiana — Democratic Senators Pryor and Landrieu have both raised a ton of money and are not rolling over yet.

Nope, it's not time yet to declare victory in 2014. But right now, we don't think we'd change places with the Republicans. We'd still Rather Be Us Than Them.