In this installment, we will take a look at the Senate. Between cosponsors, sponsors, and confirmed yes votes, we have 51 votes. Also, we have 9 leaning yes votes, 1 unknown vote, 1 undecided, 36 leaning no votes, and 2 confirmed no votes. Simply put, even if everyone else ends up voting no, there is still enough votes for it to pass

LEANING YES:

Tom Carper:

D-Delaware
HRC Score (2008): 80
Up for re-election: 2012
Other Senator's Position: Cosponsor

It surprises me that Mr. Carper is not definitely committed. Both Ted Kaufman, the other senator from Delaware and Mike Castle, the at large representative, have been listed as cosponsors. Given DE being a socially liberal state, this is a bit shocking.

Kent Conrad:

D-North Dakota
HRC Score (2008): 60
Up for re-election: 2012
Other Senator's Position: Yes

On one hand, Conrad is from a conservative state, on the other hand, the other senator from ND is a yes vote and ND will elect liberal politicians, as long as they promise ag subsidies

Kay Hagan:

D-North Carolina
HRC Score (2008): Not elected yet
Up for re-election: 2014
Other Senator's Position: Leaning No

Kay Hagan is from a southern state, however, this southern state went slightly for Obama and doesn't have as many religious crazies as the other Southern states, Add to her surviving allegations of atheism and the long time between now and re-election, she could easily be persuaded into the yes column.

Tim Johnson:

D-South Dakota
HRC Score (2008): 70
Up for re-election: 2014
Other Senator's Position: Leaning No

Tim Johnson is from a Plains state which is fairly conservative and no jurisdiction within has any anti-discrim laws. However, this state also narrowly passed a GNM ban and has a significant Native population.

Lisa Murkowski:

R-Alaska
HRC Score (2008): 20
Up for re-election: 2010
Other Senator's Position: Cosponsor

Murkowski is a pro-choice Republican from a libertarian leaning conservative state that protections sexual orientation in state employment. Could be pushed to yes, due to the fact that the religious right isn't exactly that big in Alaska and she may want to look more libertarian in order to escape the fate of Uncle Ted

Bill Nelson:

D-Florida
HRC Score (2008): 90
Up for re-election: 2012
Other Senator's Position: Leaning No

Florida is a swing state where there are significant LGBTIQ communities. However, Nelson has been fairly solid on LGBTIQ issues and has been re-elected by significant margins

Mark Pryor:

D-Arkansas
HRC Score (2008): 60
Up for re-election: 2014
Other Senator's Position: Leaning No

I see this one potentially voting no; the other AR senator, Blanche Lincoln, has called LGBTIQ rights "special rights", plus Arkansas is a deep red state.

John Rockefeller:

D-West Virginia
HRC Score (2008): 85
Up for re-election: 2014
Other Senator's Position: Unknown

Rockefeller is popular and re-election is far away. He can be convinced

George Voinovich:

R-Ohio
HRC Score (2008): 60
Retiring 2010
Other's Senator's Position: Cosponsor

Ohio is basically Little America. If Sherrod Brown can do a little nudging, and Voinovich realize that he can create a good legacy, we can get him yet

UNDECIDED:

Evan Bayh:

D-Indiana
HRC Score (2008): 90
Retiring 2010
Other Senator's Position: Leaning No

Indiana leans conservative, however, Bayh is retiring and has nothing to lose

UNKNOWN:

Carte Goodwin:

D-West Virginia
HRC Score (2008): Not elected yet
Retiring 2010
Other Senator's Position: Leaning Yes

Could go either way, if he is nudged by Rockefeller, he'll vote yes. If he listens to the Mountain militias, he'd vote no. Also, he is retiring, but he may be setting himself up for a congressional race against Shelley Moore Capito in WV's most conservative district: Probably No

In conclusion, if you live in any of the abovementioned states PLEASE, PLEASE,  PLEASE, write to the targetted Senators. We need all the votes we can get to prevent a filibuster.

-Jordan Gwendolyn