Arkansas

Blanche Lincoln is fighting to save her seat in the Senate. Cook regards the race as "leaning Republican". CNN reported earlier this week that, "she is losing the woman vote to Republican John Boozman by eight points. She performs strongest in the east, while Boozman wins every other region of the state." Lincoln continues to fight to the last minute - and this week she released this video



The State has three "open seats" in the House of Representatives - The 1st District (north east of the State) has been represented by the Democrat Marion Berry since 1997. (not to be confused with the former Mayor of Washington, Marion Barry). The seat is listed by Cook as a "toss up". It is being contested by Chad Causey, Berry's former Chief of Staff and Republican Rick Crawford, a "farm broadcaster". Vic Snyder is also standing down - in the 2nd District. His seat, in the centre of the State and which includes Little Rock, is being fought for by Democrat Joyce Elliott and Republican Tim Griffin, the the research director of the RNC in 2004. This seat is listed by Cook as "likely Republican". John Boozman has vacated his 3rd District seat in order to run for the Senate. Republican Steve Womack is the likely winner of the race against David Whitaker (New York Times rates this seat as 'solid Republican' while their "FiveThirtyEight Forecasts" puts Womack's chance of winning at 99.9% (down from 100% on October 15th))  

The fourth district (is being defended by Democrat Mike Ross against former Miss Arkansas, Beth Anne Rankin. The seat is ranked by Cook as "likely Democratic".