Race of the Day- Rhode Island U.S. Senate

40 Days Until Election Day

Status: Democrat Incumbent
2012 Presidential Result: Blue State (East)


Outlook: Safe Democrat

There really is not a need to write much about one of the least talked about Senate races in America this year. While Rhode Island may wind up having a barnburner contest for Governor and for some other elections on the ballot, there is zero suspense that Democrat Jack Reed will be reelected to the Senate.

Reed was first easily elected to the Senate in 1996, after having served in the U.S. House. None of his reelection campaigns have been competitive. With that in mind, no top tier Republican would emerge to challenge him once again, although the current nominee may be marginally more credible Maybe even more than that, but it will not really matter. Mark Zaccaria is a former North Kingstown Town Councilman who also served as the Chair of the Rhode Island GOP. Additionally, he ran as the party's sacrificial lamb for Congress in one of its two Congressional districts in 2008 and 2010. Polls are showing he is not likely to fare any better on the statewide level against Reed and somebody else will have to be the alphabetically last Senator who has his or her name called during the Roll Call.

Zaccaria campaign link:

http://www.zaccariaforsenate.com/

Senate races predicted thus far: 12 D (7 Safe, 1 Likely, 3 Leans, 1 Tossup), 16 R (7 Safe, 2 Likely, 4 Leans, 3 Tossup) 
Overall predicted thus far: 46 D, 46 R (net Republican gain of 6)