One of my favorite prognosticators, Larry Sabato, is out with his latest Crystal Ball report. He labels our Senate race "Leans Democratic."

This is a contest that everyone is beginning to watch; Mike McGavick is a comer, and he is impressive, and he has a real chance for what may be the Republican party's only pick-up of a Democratic Senate seat. Yet it says a great deal about the year that we cannot even call this race a toss-up yet. For all of Senator Maria Cantwell's weaknesses, she must continue to be listed as a narrow favorite because of the Democratic drift of 2006. If Cantwell is defeating McGavick handily on election night, you'll know Democrats are doing very well in the midterm elections.