Rove: GOP could pick up four to six Senate seats in 2010 elections

Karl Rove said Friday that Republicans could pick up between four and six Senate seats, and perhaps more, in the 2010 elections.

During an interview with Greta Van Susteren of Fox News, the former White House political adviser cited Illinois, Pennsylvania, Colorado, Arkansas and Delaware as possible GOP pickups.

"I would not be surprised to see Republicans pick up between four to six seats, and could conceivably pick up more," Rove said.

Independent political analysts have not made similar predictions. Charlie Cook of the Cook Political Report rates six Democratic-held seats as tossups or leaning Republican, including Colorado, Delaware, Illinois, Nevada, Pennsylvania and Connecticut. Cook rates four Republican-held seats as tossups, including Kentucky, Missouri, New Hampshire and Ohio. Democrats are defending 19 Senate seats next year while Republicans are defending 18.

Rove did not make a specific recommendation about the House, claiming that the electoral landscape for the lower chamber will become clearer in the coming months. He added it is a good sign for the GOP that Reps. Dennis Moore (D-Kan.), John Tanner (D-Tenn.) and Brian Baird (D-Wash.) recently announced they will not be seeking reelection.

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