Swing Season
This column was written by CBS News Early Show co-anchor Harry Smith.
It seems like just a few weeks ago, some people I know who are pretty smart about these things told me, "No way the Senate goes to the Democrats."
They said, "There's a chance the House will go, but no way the Senate."
November's election is just over a month away, and some key seats are up for grabs with new polls showing the Democrats pulling ahead. Let's face it, 4 1/2 weeks can be like an eternity in election season. A lot can happen.
But for now at least, in Ohio, Montana and Tennessee, the Dems are ahead — even if by a point. Virginia is a dead heat. So is Missouri. The Democrat leads in Pennsylvania, so too in Washington and Maryland.
Midterm elections can be drier than Aunt Hilda's martini.
But if the Dems hang on in New Jersey and an overcome Lincoln Chafee's single-digit lead in Rhode Island, there will be a very different Senate in January.
If you see President Bush on the road a lot this month, you'll know why.
Harry's daily commentary can be heard on manyCBS Radio News affiliates across the country.
By Harry Smith