The Buzz | Odds look good for Republican Senate take-over

American voters will cast ballots next week in an election that is seen as increasingly likely to hand control of the Senate over to Republicans and crush President Barack Obama’s legislative agenda in the final two years of his White House term.
The Republicans need a net gain of six Senate seats in the Nov. 4 election to give them the majority in both legislative chambers. They already have an unassailable majority in the House of Representatives and are expected to pick up a few more seats in voting that takes place in a political climate that is extremely difficult for Democrats.
Probably the biggest drag is Obama’s favorability rating, which near an all-time low. He won’t be on the ballot, but his sinking popularity has hurt Democratic candidates.