Toomey Among “Most Vulnerable” Incumbents

Sen. Pat Toomey is among the Senate’s most-vulnerable incumbents in 2016, according to a new ranking.

National Journal ranked Toomey is fifth most-vulnerable incumbent, but suggests he won’t be too easy for Democrats to take down:

Democrats might be stuck with a nominee the party’s leaders plainly don’t want: Joe Sestak. The 2010 nominee lost to Toomey by just two points in an dreadful year for Democrats, but his stubborn personality and eccentric style have them yearning for an alternative. Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee Chairman Jon Tester and incoming Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer reportedly each called Josh Shapiro, a longtime rising star in the party, to see if he was interested in running, but political insiders in the state think he’s more likely to run for attorney general. The list of of other options is sparse — Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski is seen as a long-shot contender. Attorney General Kathleen Kane, whom Democrats considered their Toomey-slayer just a few short years ago, is under threat of imminent indictment. Toomey, meanwhile, has raised a lot of money has worked hard since arriving in office to moderate his once sharply conservative image. This is a state Democrats should win in a presidential year, but it’s in danger of sliding away.

Still, PoliticsPA notes: “For instance, there are six races in 2016 where a Republican seat in a blue state is up for grabs. Only Senator Rob Portman of Ohio is considered in a safer spot (#7) than PA’s junior Senator.”