Pindell Report

If Democrats wind up with 59 U.S. Senate seats on Election Day, they can still reach the magic filibuster-proof number of 60 if the new President appoints Republican Olympia Snowe to his cabinet. The Governor of Maine, John Baldacci, would presumably appoint a fellow Democrat to serve until a November 2010 special election to fill the balance of Snowe's term.

Vermont Gov. Jim Douglas is a Republican expected to cruise to re-election in a major Democratic-leaning state, a new Politicker.com report shows.

The Vermont governor's race is rated as the sixth most-competitive out of the 11 gubernatorial races occurring this election cycle. While the report categorizes the race as "Leans Republican," Douglas is far from being the safest governor up for re-election this year. That distinction goes to neighboring New Hampshire Gov. John Lynch, a Democrat.

"Douglas began this race with many advantages," said Politicker.com Managing Editor James Pindell, author of The Pindell Report. "And while Democratic House Speaker Gaye Symington has been able to become a credible candidate very quickly, Douglas has uniquely been able to become a different kind of Republican than we see around the country."