The demise of Alaska’s Ted Stevens spells real trouble for the Republicans in the Senate.

And it wasn’t great news to McCain or Palin either, who threw him to the wolves, even though Stevens had helped Palin get elected governor.

But many Republicans have given up on McCain/Palin and just want to hold on to enough seats in the Senate to be able block the Democrats with a filibuster. The magic number is 41 seats.

With Stevens gone, that looks less likely now.

Currently, the Senate is split 49-49, with two independents, Bernie Sanders and the loathsome Joe Lieberman.

The Democrats stand to gain not only Stevens’s seat, but a whole lot more.

Elizabeth Dole is likely to get trounced in North Carolina by State Sen. Kay Hagan.

In New Hampshire, John Sununu could lose to former Governor Jeanne Shaheen.

In Minnesota, Al Franken might just take down Norm Coleman.

And in Colorado, Virginia, and New Mexico, where Republican Senators are retiring, the Democrats stand to gain all three seats.

Mark Udall should win in Colorado.

Cousin Tom should prevail in New Mexico.

And in Virginia, former Governor Mark Warner should succeed retiring Senator John Warner.

So that’s seven right there. The Democrats need two or three more, and they could get
them.

In Mississippi, former Governor Ronnie Musgrove could defeat Republican Senator Roger Wicker.

Saxby Chambliss could go down in Georgia to former state rep. Jim Martin.

Even Mitch McConnell of Kentucky could lose to Bruce Lunsford.

That would be a Democratic landslide, but don’t count it out because you can hear the earth beginning to rumble.

And if the Dems won all ten of these, they could kiss Lieberman goodbye, which would, no doubt, be a satisfying smooch.