The Race For the Senate: MO, TN, VA

FactCheck analyzes the last-hour commercials spamming the airwaves in Missouri, Tennessee and Virginia -- three states that analysts have agreed "are the keys to controlling the 100-member Senate," according to the Washington Post. Democrats need to take six new seats -- and not lose any incumbent seats -- to control the Senate. This three-state line-up:

• Missouri: Democrat State Auditor Claire McCaskill is challenging Republican Senator Jim Talent, who is running for a second term. In 2002, Talent narrowly defeated Jean Carnahan, who had been appointed to her husband's seat after he died in a plane crash just before the election (but still "defeated" John Ashcroft). Talent's campaigns have been linked by money to Jack Abramoff and Tom DeLay.
  
  The GOP implies the McCaskill is shady, that she is "try[ing] to buy an election." McCaskill borrowed against family assets to finance her campaign, something wealthy politicians do all the time, legally. A DSCC ad correctly states that Talent "voted for tax breaks for companies that send jobs overseas," but erroneously implies that Missouri has lost jobs as a result of this vote.
  
  Michael J. Fox has recorded an ad for McCaskill because of Talent's position on embryonic stem cell research. YouTube Ad. Talent's key votes in Congress (WaPo).
  
  The latest Rasmussen poll puts Talent slightly ahead, but Real Clear Politics has McCaskill with a slight lead.
  
  
• Tennessee: Rep. Harold Ford, Jr. (D-9) is running against Republican Bob Corker, former mayor of Chattanooga. The GOP was criticized for an ad that ran in October, entitled "Bimbo," which featured a skimpily dressed white woman who "met Harold Ford at the Playboy Party." Ford is black; the ad ends with an invitation for him to call the white woman. The DSCC is criticized for ads suggesting Corker is a tax dodger.
  
  Corker's campaign is running an ad suggesting Ford supports terrorists, because he did not oppose a Clinton pardon. However, the AP reports that those pardoned "were neither involved in any killings nor convicted in the bombings."
  
  The latest Rasmussen poll puts Corker ahead.
  
  
• Virginia: Republican Sen. George Allen is facing a tough battle against Democrat James Webb, a former Marine who served as Secretary of the Navy under President Ronald Reagan.
  
  The NRSC accuses Webb of being out of touch with today's feminist because of his 1992 criticism of the investigation into the Tailhook scandal. He criticized an investigation that was initiated by the first Bush Administration:

  A botched internal investigation and the ongoing revelations of inexcusable harassment of women at a Las Vegas convention of naval aviators a year ago have also left in their wake a witch hunt that threatens to swamp the entire naval service.

  The DSCC attempts to paint Allen as a Bush Clone, using 2005 data on voting record because the numbers look better (for their message) than the 2006 numbers. Of course, the ad doesn't say that the data are a year old. The DSCC is also criticizing Allen for his votes on embryonic stem cell research (he opposes it, as does the President).
  
  Real Clear Politics gives a slight nod to Webb.

Also, see:

• eVoting And You!
• Undecided? Check This List
• The Power of Nightmares
• Voting Systems in Nov 2006, State-by-State
• When You Vote, Remember the Iraq War & Its Veterans, US Liberals Guide
• Civil Liberties Voter Guide, Civil Liberties Guide
• Voter Guides on Issues Important to Conservatives, US Conservatives Guide
• Foreign Policy & the Mid-Term Elections, Globalization Guide
• Iraq War Won't Be Decided By Congress Alone -- Whether Republican or Democrat, Terrorism Guide
• Election Day Guide to Voting, US Government Info Guide
• 2006 Senate Race
• 2006 House Race
• 2006 Governor Race

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Tags: 2006 Elections, Politics