The Memo: Democrats confident about Senate despite Platner, left-wing drama

Democrats are going through a turbulent time, but all the drama shows little sign of shifting the battle for the Senate definitively against them. Party insiders believe they retain a solid chance of retaking control of the upper chamber.

The political agenda has been shaped recently by former Democratic nominee Graham Platner’s withdrawal from the Senate race in Maine after an allegation of rape, which he denies. Headlines have also been made by the heated Senate Democratic primary fight in Michigan between Abdul El-Sayed and Rep. Haley Stevens (D-Mich.). 

More broadly, there have been fierce internal battles between the ascendant left — including members of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) — and the more centrist party establishment.

Yet, after all that, the Senate battlefield has largely kept its existing contours.

“I think the national environment favors us,” said Democratic consultant Mark Longabaugh. “Looking at polling I am privy to in our races, Trump is underwater — including in places where he should not be underwater.”

Skeptics, however, warn that the situation has become more muddled amid recent events. They point to some signs that the so-called generic ballot has tightened, narrowing Democrats’ national advantage, and to the fact that the opposition party has precious little margin for error.

Democrats need to net four Senate seats to win back the majority. 

They are confident of notching a victory in North Carolina, where popular former Gov. Roy Cooper (D) is their nominee. Republican hopes of winning a seat back in Georgia are diminishing as Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.) shows strength in polls and on the campaign trail.

That leaves six true battlegrounds, with Democrats needing to win three of them to take the Senate, or four with a loss in Michigan.

Democrats........

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