A basic error like the one you bring up makes one wonder at how useful the rest of the article could be.

So why have we not heard anything about the MA legislature rewriting the rules to prevent the Gov. replacing JFK? Seems like no one thinks he's going anywhere, whether by resigning or winning.

At the risk of being silly, is there actually any legal block to being both a senator and president?

US Constitution, Section 6, Clause 2: No Senator or Representative shall, during the Time for which he was elected, be appointed to any civil Office under the Authority of the United States, which shall have been created, or the Emoluments whereof shall have been encreased during such time; and no Person holding any Office under the United States, shall be a Member of either House during his Continuance in Office.

Barnes is normally more sensible than this. I didn't read the article but it seems clear that the Dems can't win the Senate without holding most if not all of the 5 open Dem Southern Senate Seats in very pro-Bush states. This seems to be a tall order, especially if Kerry is the nominee and gets beaten easily by Bush.

I think that both Dems outperformance and the GOP underperformance have helped make what could have been a GOP push to the magic 60 a complete impossibility. Dem incumbents and of course the challengers have done whatever it takes (even pretending to spit on the DNC and Kerry) to remain favorites were the National Party is disliked; and the GOP has not gotten the best candidates in Red States it could have had to capitalize on turnover. In Blue States Dem money and incumbents is very strong. Thus it all comes down to coattails, and this early in the game, Fred Barnes has no reason to bet on that. When all is said and done, some of what has been said on this board will materialize, and W's coattails in Red States will count on the open seats but not on the incumbent seats. Let's face it, the Senate is the last place the Dems are going to cede easily.

Dan Quayle can't beat Birch Bayh.

I do not read Barnes' columns. I do see him frequently on the only worthwhile news show on television Brit Hume, where he usually plays the role of hysterical old woman.

That said, I do not think the type of Washington insider nose counting analysis complete with sage nods to conventional wisdom is going to make you money this year.

I think Ray Fair is on to the fundamental truth about the presidental election. I also think that Kerry is an incredibly bad candidate who will not fire up the masses and who will probably run behind his Fairmodel projection.

Take two asprin. Call me in the morning.

Barnes has gone off the deep end with this poor "analysis".

Folks, the whole point of this article is to warn the GOP against being too blase, too overconfident.

(Not that there isn't any reason for being blase and overconfident, but that's precisely the point.)