Thread by @DrDenaGrayson

Interesting evening spent with 4 senators at a very small gathering. LOTS of optimism—fueled by internal #poll data—that we will flip the Senate.

Maine: @SenatorCollins is DOWN by 2 points. Her #Kavanaugh vote decimated her approval rating — she went from 57 to the upper-30’s.😎

Senate breakdown is 53 @GOP—47 @SenateDems + Independent.

@DougJones faces a tough re-election bid, but @jeffsessions may split the anti-Roy Moore vote. If Moore wins the primary, Jones has a great chance.

If Jones loses, we need 4-5 seats to flip—4 if we win @POTUS, 5 if not.

In Colorado, @CoryGardner is in BIG trouble. John @Hickenlooper leads by 12 points!

In #NC, @ThomTillis is literally polling in the toilet (approval rating in the 20’s!), so another great pickup opportunity for @TheDemocrats.😎

In #AZ, lucky loser @MarthaMcSally (lost to @SenatorSinema, but appointed to take over @SenJohnMcCain’s seat) is DOWN by 2 points to potential D nominee @ShuttleCDRKelly — the husband of @GabbyGiffords, who is a total rockstar in AZ.😃

Other states RIPE for the picking include #Iowa and #Kansas(!), where Kris Kobach is likely to win the GOP bid. Kobach just LOST his gubernatorial race to current DEMOCRATIC (in Kansas!) Governor @LauraKellyKS.

Lots of discussion of pro-Trump candidates LOSING in red states.😀

A top (and I mean TOP) Senator gleefully reported that @realDonaldTrump is DOWN by 10 points in #Georgia!!🔥

There are TWO seats up for grabs — @sendavidperdue and an OPEN seat (special election) being vacated by @SenatorIsakson.

Major opportunities here.😎

#Montana is also a potential pickup....but @GovernorBullock remains on the sidelines. If Bullock gets in, Dems have a GREAT chance of flipping the seat.

I spoke with several senators about the #ImpeachingHearings:

“DAMNING testimony with the first 2 witnesses.”

“Republicans are in a tough spot. They’re trying to attack these career diplomats, and it’s blowing up in their face.”

“Pretty clear that Trump committed #bribery.”

I asked what their @SenateGOP colleagues say in private about Trump:

One senator: “They tell me: ‘He’s a madman, but he’s our madman. And if I say anything, Trump will destroy my career with a single tweet.’”

Another: “They’re stuck. Polling is key. If that moves, THEY will.”

They all agreed that Democrats must make #healthcare a CORE issue.

I reminded them that Trump promised he wouldn’t let people “die in the streets,” yet people literally ARE dying.

One senator piled on: “I destroyed my opponent over protection of pre-existing conditions.”😎

I was delighted that all 4 senators said that #climatechange was a MAJOR issue. Interesting that a TOP senator lamented that they didn’t push to pass cap-and-trade back in 2009: “We missed an opportunity, and we can’t ever let that happen again.”

Another: “Our future is this.”

Lots of discussion on the Democratic presidential race. Most feel that the race (right now) is between Biden and Warren. They also pointed to Bernie’s massive (and sustainable) war chest, although when pressed, no one felt that he had a great chance of winning.

VERY negative sentiment about Bloomberg entering the race. They fear that he will be a “spoiler.”

Very POSITIVE sentiment about @DevalPatrick: “If he had entered the race at the beginning, I think that he’d be in the top tier.”

Another: “He’s a winner.”

On #impeachment, one senator told me privately: “This is a massive ball of yarn. The more we pull at it, the worse it keeps getting for Trump.”

Another: “It’s getting really tough for our Republican colleagues to defend Trump. And there’s even more yet to come!”

Glorious.😎

None, including a TOP senator, believe a Senate #impeachment trial will happen very soon. They know that, as of today, there’s little chance of conviction. BUT if the #polls “get closer to 60% in favor of #impeachment, swing-state Republicans are in a VERY tough spot.”😎

A TOP senator literally giggled, while discussing the #MoscowMitch social-media campaign: “Mitch was pissed.”🤣

All in all, a VERY positive vibe about flipping the Senate and winning back the WH.

“When we win, we are going to seize the opportunity to enact lots of good legislation: lower prescription drug prices, expand #healthcare coverage, automatic voter registration, #climatechange.”