Friday, August 24, 2012

It's not just Todd Akin. The fallout from the Missouri Senate candidate's "legitimate rape" comment was the latest signal that the Republican path to the majority in the Senate may have just gotten tougher.

Democratic prospects have improved in states where GOP candidates had long been favored, like North Dakota and Arizona. And Republicans also now face the possibility of losing a seat in Maine.

Republicans argue their road to power is still viable. They point to improved prospects in Wisconsin, Nevada and Connecticut.

Republicans need to gain four seats claim the majority, and the stakes are high. The Senate makeup will influence whether the next president can successfully pass his agenda. It could also affect the makeup of the Supreme Court.