CNN's Capital Gang made Senate predictions tonight. Bob Novak, Kate O'Bierne and Margeret Carlson predicted a Thune win. Here's the transcript. Excerpt:
Starting with Bob Novak -- Bob, when the dust settles on Tuesday night or Wednesday morning, or whenever it settles, what will the Senate line-up be?
NOVAK: I think it'll be a net gain of three Republicans, and that's a 54 to 46 majority, working out this way. I think the Democrats obviously take the Illinois seat. I think they probably take the Colorado and Alaska seats, although those are very close, and -- but I think the chickens have come home to roost for the Democrats in the South. I think they're going to lose all five of those Southern states, including Louisiana, which may not be settled until the run-off after the election. So that's -- you say, well, wait a minute. That's three and five. How do I get a net three? I say Tom Daschle goes down in South Dakota, so that's a net gain of three seats for the Republicans.
SHIELDS: Boy, oh, boy! Margaret.
CARLSON: I'm plus-one the GOP, and I think you might be right about South Dakota, but I gave it to Tom Daschle for...
NOVAK: Sentimental...
CARLSON: ... sentimental reasons, yes. And my other one that's not so...
(CROSSTALK)
CARLSON: I know. Real soft-hearted here -- is Kentucky. I think that Jim Bunning's erratic behavior may catch up with him, even though Republicans have done a good job of tamping him down.
SHIELDS: "Erratic" is a euphemism...
CARLSON: ... but I have that going...
SHIELDS: ... where Jim Bunning's concerned.
CARLSON: Yes, it is.
SHIELDS: Kate, what's going to happen?
O'BEIRNE: I think Republicans will be up four in the Senate...
SHIELDS: Oh!
O'BEIRNE: ... making the split 55-44. I think Republicans will lose Illinois. They'll lose Colorado or Alaska. I don't think they'll lose both. I agree with Bob. I think they'll sweep those open Democratic seats in the South, including Mel Martinez in Florida. And I think Tom Daschle finally loses in South Dakota. You know, there's a terrific John Thune ad up with Tom Daschle declaring himself on camera, I'm a D.C. resident, praising trial lawyers, celebrating abortion, celebrating Hillary Clinton. He's listed, as you know -- D.C. is his principal place of residence. And I think he's going to wind up back in his principal place of residence with no more pesky trips out to South Dakota.
SHIELDS: Hey, pesky? Goes to every county every year.
O'BEIRNE: Well, he won't have to anymore.
HUNT: It'll be a good day in Dixie for the Republicans, not quite as good as Bob and Kate -- Kate predict, however. I think they'll win three of those five seats down there. Tom Daschle will hang on. He has been the -- he is a South Dakotan, and he goes to every county every year in that state. They know he's a South Dakotan. It may take a day or two before we really have that finalized, though. And I think the Democrats are going to pick up four of the Republican-held seats elsewhere, including -- Margaret's right -- Kentucky. That'll be the big surprise. And as a result, 50- 50, repeat of 2001.
O'BEIRNE: There'll be Dick Cheney to break the tie.
HUNT: No, John Edwards breaks the tie.
(CROSSTALK)
SHIELDS: ... John Edwards in the race of course. I think it's 50-50, and I think -- I think Daschle does hang on, as close as Tim Johnson did in 2002. But I -- and I think that Barack Obama, obviously, wins. I think Kim Salazar wins in Colorado. And I think Governor Tony Knowles wins in Alaska. And I think what you then have Betty Castor, and I'm predicting that Erskine Bowles wins in North Carolina because the North Carolina Bush race with Kerry is closer than it should be, just as the race in Virginia is close. Remarkable development of this -- this election is I think the margin is going to be so much closer in so many states than it has been in the past.
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