Per Rasmussen, Texas senator John Cornyn has opened up a 17 point lead over his Democratic challenger–an indication perhaps that Rasmussen’s last poll showing Cornyn with only a 4 point lead was an outlier. Also, in New Jersey, Democratic incumbent Frank Lautenberg is in a virtual tie with his opponent, former Republican congressman Dick Zimmer. The 84 year-old Lautenberg just emerged from a bruising primary, so his numbers may be somewhat depressed, but there’s no doubt that Democrats are going to have to have to play defense in this state. Granted, there are still 10 vulnerable Republican Senate seats–states where Republican Senate candidates are polling under 50 percent. But in a year that doesn’t look too good for the GOP, Republicans should take whatever good news they can get.
