51.   With wobbly Republican incumbents in New Hampshire and North Carolina and an open Democratic seat in Georgia, there will be early entrails to ponder.

52.   A Democratic open seat in Nebraska is competitive.

53.   Another of the Democratic seats went to freshman Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, who dutifully provided slow, methodical clapping at the appropriate moments.

54.   Besides their Connecticut victory, Republicans won Democratic open seats in Pennsylvania, New York, Virginia and Missouri.

55.   Besides their Connecticut victory, Republicans won Democratic open seats in Pennsylvania, New York, Virginia, Missouri and West Virginia.

56.   He would have given his party a big-name candidate in their attempt to grab a long-held Democratic seat.

57.   Nevada, Nebraska, New York and New Jersey have open Democratic seats.

58.   One Democratic seat remains vacant.

59.   Republicans also won Democratic open seats in Pennsylvania, New York, Virginia and Missouri.

60.   Republicans picked up six Democratic seats in scattered states, enough to renew their hold for two more years.