Senator Kit Bond, Missouri’s senior republican officeholder, brought fellow republicans together at his home in Mexico late last week. They reviewed what went right and what went wrong this election year. The triumphs: Winning the state for Governor Bush, grabbing the majority in the state Congressional delegation, and winning another seat in the state senate. But the losses were substantial, including Senator John Ashcroft’s failed re-election bid and Jim Talent’s unsuccessful run for governor. The next step comes quickly for republicans and democrats alike, as three special elections for state senate seats loom January 24th. They could decide which party holds the majority.
