Charlie Cook is getting more bullish on a Republican Senate in 2015

There is some good news for Democrats in Cook’s new ratings. Georgia moved from “Lean Republican” to “Toss-up.” It’s one of Democrats’ only two realistic pickup opportunities this cycle, along with Kentucky. Mississippi moved from “Solid Republican” to “Likely Republican.” The state is still a very good bet to stay in GOP hands, but if nominated, Sen. Thad Cochran’s GOP primary challenger Chris McDaniel might pose problems for his party in the general election against former congressman Travis Childers (D). Finally, Senate seats in Hawaii and Massachusetts look safer for Democrats.

With the new moves, eight Democratic seats now fall into Cook Report’s “Toss-up,” “Lean Republican” or “Likely Republican” categories: Alaska, Arkansas, Louisiana, Michigan, North Carolina, Montana, West Virginia and South Dakota. Just two GOP seats fall into the corresponding Democratic categories: Georgia and Kentucky.

Republicans need to net six seats for the majority. In addition to the eight ripest opportunities above, they also stand chances of picking up Colorado and New Hampshire — chances that did not exit before Gardner and Brown entered the mix. There’s also Iowa, a Democratic seat worth watching, even as the Republican field has struggled and Democratic Rep. Bruce Braley (D) has done well so far.

The overarching reason Republicans should be optimistic is that they have more paths to the majority than at any point this cycle so far.

via Charlie Cook is getting more bullish on a Republican Senate in 2015.