Sen. John Ensign, chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, spoke with reporters yesterday about the fall campaign season, labeling it the toughest election for the GOP since 1974. Ensign is now seeking to rally donors around the need to keep a "firewall" of 45 Republican senators, which would mean a loss of four seats, but enable the party to filibuster Democratic-backed legislation.

Speaking at a luncheon sponsored by the Christian Science Monitor, Ensign also stated that “we’re very grateful to have Al Franken” as the Democratic challenger in Minnesota. If Franken wins in November, he reasoned, it will indicate "a bad night" for the Republicans.