They've been the Rodney Dangerfield of American politics this year, but Senate Democrats on Monday finally had a great day.
Drowned out by the presidential race and subject to conventional thinking that Republicans will take control in the fall elections, Senate Democrats had two events to crow about. First, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee reported a record fundraising month. Officials said that July's $5.84 million was the best on record, pushing the total raised for the election to over $83 million.
Guy Cecil, DSCC executive director, said, "A year and a half ago no one gave us a shot, but we are out-raising and out-organizing our competition and today we are optimistic about our chances to keep the majority."
Then came the "legitimate rape" comments of Missouri Senate Republican candidate Rep. Todd Akin, prompting ridicule from Republicans and expectations they would force him from the race against embattled incumbent Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill.
Most race watchers had McCaskill losing her seat after one term, largely because President Obama isn't popular in Missouri. But the controversy has sparked new life in her campaign. Should she win, it's a much harder climb for the GOP to take control of the Senate.
