60-40 SENATE:

2012 Looks No Better For Democrats (Shira Toeplitz, 3/21/10, CQ-Roll Call)

Senate Democrats are no doubt bracing for sizeable losses in the fall elections, but an early look at 2012 map shows a rebound for the party could be difficult next cycle, when President Barack Obama will be at the top of the ticket.

Although most analysis is purely speculative at this point, there isn't a lot of guesswork in the numbers: Of the 33 Senate seats up in 2012, 24 are currently held by Democrats or Independents who caucus with them. What's more, all of the first-term Senators in this class were elected in a mid-term cycle and will likely face a different electorate in a presidential year.