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Political Experts Rate the 2012 Senate Contests

Each election cycle, in addition to our own analyses, we compile predictions by other political race experts on the most competitive races in the country. Below, find forecasts** for 2012 Senate elections from The Cook Political Report, Stuart Rothenberg’s Political Report, Congressional Quarterly, and Larry Sabato's Crystal Ball.

Arizona

Sen. Jon Kyl (R) - retiring

The Cook Political Report – Likely Republican
The Rothenberg Report – Favored Republican
Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball – Leans Republican

California

Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D)

The Cook Political Report – Solid Democrat
The Rothenberg Report – Safe Democrat
Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball – Safe Democrat

Connecticut

Sen. Joe Lieberman (I) - retiring

The Cook Political Report – Likely Democrat
The Rothenberg Report - Safe Democrat
Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball – Likely Democrat

Delaware

Sen. Tom Carper (D)

The Cook Political Report – Solid Democrat
The Rothenberg Report - Safe Democrat
Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball – Safe Democrat

Florida

Sen. Bill Nelson (D)

The Cook Political Report - Lean Democrat
The Rothenberg Report – Toss-up/Tilt Democrat
Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball – Toss Up

Hawaii

Sen. Daniel Akaka (D) - retiring

The Cook Political Report – Toss-up
The Rothenberg Report - Lean Democrat
Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball – Lean Democrat

Indiana

Sen. Dick Lugar (R)

The Cook Political Report – Likely Republican
The Rothenberg Report - Favored Republican
Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball – Likely Republican

Maine

Sen. Olympia Snowe (R)

The Cook Political Report - Likely Republican
The Rothenberg Report – Safe Republican
Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball – Likely Republican

Maryland

Sen. Ben Cardin (D)

The Cook Political Report – Solid Democrat
The Rothenberg Report - Safe Democrat
Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball – Safe Democrat

Massachusetts

Sen. Scott Brown (R)

The Cook Political Report – Toss Up
The Rothenberg Report – Toss-up
Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball – Toss-up

Michigan

Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D)

The Cook Political Report - Likely Democrat
The Rothenberg Report – Favored Democrat
Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball – Likely Democrat

Minnesota

Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D)

The Cook Political Report – Solid Democrat
The Rothenberg Report - Safe Democrat
Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball – Safe Democrat

Mississippi

Sen. Roger Wicker (R)

The Cook Political Report - Solid Republican
The Rothenberg Report - Safe Republican
Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball – Safe Republican

Missouri

Sen. Claire McCaskill (D)

The Cook Political Report – Toss Up
The Rothenberg Report – Pure Toss-up
Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball – Toss-Up

Montana

Sen. Jon Tester (D)

The Cook Political Report - Toss Up
The Rothenberg Report – Pure Toss-up
Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball – Toss-Up

Nebraska

Sen. Ben Nelson (D)

The Cook Political Report – Likely Republican
The Rothenberg Report – Republican Favored
Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball – Likely Republican

Nevada

Sen. John Ensign (R) - retiring

The Cook Political Report - Toss Up
The Rothenberg Report – Pure Toss-up
Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball – Lean Republican

New Jersey

Sen. Robert Menendez (D)

The Cook Political Report – Solid Democrat
The Rothenberg Report - Safe Democrat
Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball – Likely Democrat

New Mexico

Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D) - retiring

The Cook Political Report – Toss Up
The Rothenberg Report - Toss-up/Tilt Democrat
Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball – Toss-Up

New York

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D)

The Cook Political Report – Solid Democrat
The Rothenberg Report - Safe Democrat
Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball – Safe Democrat

North Dakota

Sen. Kent Conrad (D) - retiring

The Cook Political Report - Toss Up
The Rothenberg Report – Favored Republican
Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball – Likely Republican

Ohio

Sen. Sherrod Brown (D)

The Cook Political Report - Lean Democrat
The Rothenberg Report – Toss Up/Tilt Democrat
Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball – Lean Democrat

Pennsylvania

Sen. Robert P. Casey (D)

The Cook Political Report - Likely Democrat
The Rothenberg Report – Safe Democrat
Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball – Likely Democrat

Rhode Island

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D)

The Cook Political Report – Solid Democrat
The Rothenberg Report - Safe Democrat
Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball – Safe Democrat

Tennessee

Sen. Bob Corker (R)

The Cook Political Report- Solid Republican
The Rothenberg Report - Safe Republican
Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball – Safe Republican

Texas

Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R) - retiring

The Cook Political Report – Likely Republican
The Rothenberg Report – Safe Republican
Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball – Safe Republican

Utah

Sen. Orrin Hatch (R)

The Cook Political Report - Solid Republican
The Rothenberg Report - Safe Republican
Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball – Safe Republican

Vermont

Sen. Bernard Sanders (I)

The Cook Political Report – Solid Democrat/I
The Rothenberg Report - Safe Democrat/I
Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball – SafeDemocrat/I

Virginia

Sen. Jim Webb (D) - retiring

The Cook Political Report – Toss Up
The Rothenberg Report - Pure Toss-up
Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball – Toss-Up

Washington

Sen. Maria Cantwell (D)

The Cook Political Report –Likely Democrat
The Rothenberg Report – Safe Democrat
Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball – Safe Democrat

West Virginia

Sen. Joe Manchin (D)

The Cook Political Report – Likely Democrat
The Rothenberg Report - Safe Democrat
Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball – Lean Democrat

Wisconsin

Sen. Herb Kohl (D) - retiring

The Cook Political Report – Toss Up
The Rothenberg Report - Lean Democrat
Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball – Toss-Up

Wyoming

Sen. John Barrasso (R)

The Cook Political Report – Solid Republican
The Rothenberg Report - Safe Republican
Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball – Safe Republican

**Last Update: January 27, 2012