Some notes on the 2014 Senate races

Several Democratic Senators have announced that they aren't going to run for re-election in 2014.  With the Republicans having to pick up six seats to control the Senate, here are two thoughts:

In the last decade, only three Democratic incumbents have lost reelection: South Dakota’s Tom Daschle in 2004, along with as Wisconsin’s Russ Feingold and Arkansas’ Blanche Lincoln in 2010. . . . .

and

“The GOP has to gain six seats to take control, and the post-World War II average for ‘sixth-year itch’ midterms is that the opposition party gains six seats,” said University of Virginia political scientist Larry Sabato, who handicaps Senate races. “Can the party hit the average?”