US Senate up for grabs

A useful tool for those obsessed with politics is the NYT's race tracker, here.

As of today, it shows the U.S. Senate up for grabs by the forces of good; this because all three contests they show as toss-ups have recent polls giving Democrats a lead anywhere from five to eight points.

Meanwhile, Virginia, which they show as 'lean republican', has Democrat Jim Webb either even or within the margin of error against George Felix Macaca Allen.

Also in the Times, an article about a GOP firewall strategy, trying to contain the inevitable Democratic gains by throwing contenders in Ohio, Rhode Island, Montana and Pennsylvania under the bus.

Not sure that's going to work.