Six is the number Republicans need to take over the Senate, and any six of a number would be able do it, but campaigns and candidates are not equal in value, and it matters which six these will be.

One hopes all will win (and will oust Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., which is very important), but there are always some who are rather more equal than others and have tangible assets that others do not. Such assets include the potential to project strength and purpose, to win independents and centermost parts of the opposite party, to expand the party’s appeal to key demographics, to win in states that don’t always vote for their party, and then hold their own on a national ticket.