James Pethokoukis

Ed Carson of IBD’s Capital Hill blog, highlight the 11 red state senators who voted against repealing Obamacare:

Eleven Democrats up for re-election next year represent states in which Republicans won a majority of the 2010 popular vote for House seats: Florida, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

Especially vulnerable:

* Montana’s Jon Tester and Missouri’s Claire McCaskill won in 2006 with less than 50% of the vote.

* Ben Nelson of Nebraska may have sealed his fate with his infamous “Cornhusker Kickback” in exchange for being the 60th ObamaCare vote.

* Virginia’s Jim Webb, who narrowly won in 2006, is at least semi-vulnerable. And he could retire after a single term, some have speculated.

Meanwhile, a 12th red-state Democrat, North Dakota’s Kent Conrad, recently announced he would not seek another term. That seems a likely GOP pickup.

Some other longtime Democratic senators could choose to retire, especially if they face the prospect of a grueling campaign. For example, Wisconsin’s Herb Kohl will be 77 in 2012.

I know it’s early, but it would be  very surprising, I think, for Rs not to retake the Senate next year. The Dems really needed to make a better showing in 2010 given how many seats they have to defend in 2012 and 2014.