Sabato’s crystal ball: 55-seat GOP House pickup, but MN incumbents survive

Larry Sabato (Photo courtesy of the University of Virginia)

National political pundit Larry Sabato has released his final “crystal ball” predictions for the 2010 elections. The director of the University of Virginia’s Center for Politics anticipates Republicans picking up 55 seats and taking control of the House. Sabato sees the three Minnesota incumbents considered to be in some peril — DFLers Jim Oberstar and Tim Walz, and Republican Michele Bachmann — retaining their seats.

In the Senate, he predicts the GOP will pick up eight seats, falling two shy of the number necessary to take control. Finally Sabato believes Republicans will net eight additional governorships. But he sees Mark Dayton taking Minnesota’s top post, which would end a two-decade DFL drought.