The Not-So-Solid South

Two polls out today in Southern Senate races show good news for the Democrats.

In Tennessee, Harold Ford Jr. is up 44-42 in the latest poll against Republican nominee Bob Corker. Ford is a smart candidate (I just watched him have a pretty good appearance on Hardball), and as a moderate he's the right fit for Tennessee. Corker has been dogged by issues of using his office for personal gain while mayor of Chattanooga. Essentially his real estate company collected $4.6 million dollars from Wal-Mart right after Corker signed off on selling them the land.

And in Virginia, the macaca effect appears to be working in the Democrats' favor, as a new poll has Jim Webb within 3 points of incumbent Sen. George Allen, 48-45. This race has tightened about 12-15 points in a matter of weeks, and the Webb campaign has to be thrilled with these numbers. Allen is inextricably tied to an unpopular President, and he's making more problems for himself every time he opens his mouth.

If the Republicans can't hold the solid South, this is going to be a tidal wave of an election.