Because it’s never too early to reach for the party favors or the Prozac when contemplating the 2010 U.S. Senate elections - TvM presents you with our giant, time-killing overview of all 36 races.

The outlook?  Grim.  But remember, as late as the day before the 2006 election, even MSNBC and the Washington Post had Republican senate candidates “surging” and GOP House losses as low as 10.  So hold your nose and your fears and let’s dive into an early look at 2010:

Alabama – Richard Selby (R).  A Dixiecrat Republican in the Heart of the South.  Does he even have to campaign?  Solid Republican.

Alaska – Lisa Murkowski (R).  She survived charges of nepotism in 2004, barely beating former Gov. Tony Knowles.  But so far, the only “challenge” to Murkowski’s second term is the highly unlikely prospect of either Gov. Sarah Palin or Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell entering the primary.  No Democrat opponent appears on the horizon.  Solid Republican. 

Arizona – John McCain (R).  Six more years.  Yawn.  Solid Republican.

Arkansas – Blanche Lincoln (D).  Lincoln has a small bank account and didn’t completely destroy an opponent she outspent by $6.4 million in 2004.  Ex-US Attorney and White House aide Tim Griffin has been rumored to run, which would mark an improvement over the Arkansas GOP’s 2008 candidate – nobody.  Favors Democrat.

California – Barbara Boxer (D).  The possible entrance of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger into the race has the tongues of California political wonks wagging, even though Arnold’s approval rating has dropped and he now trails by 9% in a hypothetical match-up.  It may be a moot point as conservative Assemblyman Chuck DeVore has locked up most of the Golden State’s Republican endorsements.  Schwarzenegger’s set to return to “acting” with Sly Stallone’s mammoth movie “The Expendables” starring an All-Star cast of former A-List action heroes.  Would he really give it up again to serve in the Senate?  Solid Democrat – Lean Democrat if Arnold runs.

Colorado – Michael Bennet (D).  The retreat of Ken Salazar to the Interior took a previously unlikely GOP pick-up back on the map.  But the two Republicans who polled well against the otherwise strong Salazar – fmr. Gov. Bill Owens and Hall-of-Famer John Elway – aren’t in while weaker candidates are.  Without a top-notch recruit, increasingly blue Colorado will re-elect Bennet.  Favors Democrat.

Connecticut – Chris Dodd (D).  Let’s not repeat ourselves.  Toss-up, for the moment. 

Delaware – Open (D).  Likewise, we’ve been here recently.  Solid Democrat / Lean Democrat if Mike Castle or Tom Wagner run.

Florida – Open (R).  And the Meek shall inherit the Senate?  Rep. Kendrick Meek looks to be the Democrat’s candidate while Florida’s GOP awaits the word of increasingly moderate Gov. Charlie Crist to avoid a bitter primary.  Ex-House Speaker Marco Rubio is probably the strongest Republican candidate in a field that doesn’t include a Crist or a Bush.  Lean Republican.

Georgia – Johnny Isakson (R).  All the attention in Georgia is on the open Governor’s race.  Despite Saxby Chambliss’ close call in 2008, Democrats aren’t likely to get a good challenger.  Rep. Paul Broun Jr. is a rumored Democrat, but seems a long-shot to run.  Solid Republican.

Hawaii – Daniel Inouye (D).  Inouye’s 86 and going for term number nine.  Only GOP Gov. Linda Lingle might make this a race, and since she’s term limited, it’s possible but unlikely.  Solid Democrat.

Idaho – Mike Crapo (R).  The most recent opponent Crapo’s had is prostate cancer as the Democrats didn’t even field a candidate in 2004.  Unless he retires, he’s returning to Washington.  Solid Republican.

Illinois – Roland Burris (D).  We’ve been here before, but Burris is bound and determined to keep State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias from getting an easy path to DC.  If Reps Mark Kirk or Pete Roskam make bids in Illinois’ scandal-plagued environments, they’ll find a warmer-than-usual reception for a Republican candidate.  Leans Democrat.

Indiana – Evan Bayh (D).  With $11 million in the bank, it’s Evan for Evah.  Solid Democrat.

Iowa – Chuck Grassley (R).  If he keeps calling for the deaths of business executives, maybe Grassley will have an interesting 2010.  Until then, this Grassley is an Iowa weed – impossible to yank out.  Solid Republican.

Kansas – Open (R).  It’s the year of the GOP primary in Kansas.  With retiring Sen. Sam Brownbeck and Secretary of State Ron Thornburgh dueling it out for governor, Congressmen Jerry Moran and Todd Tiahrt are fighting for Senate with second-tier interest.  No Democrat has stepped forward yet.  Solid Republican.

Kentucky – Jim Bunning (R).  Bunning’s the Jack Morris, circa Game Seven of the 1991 series, of the GOP Senate Caucus – he’s refusing to get pulled.  Despite bizarre statements and behavior, Bunning refuses to step aside.  ‘04 nominee Dan Mongiardo nearly won last time and looks to finish the job.  But a host of major Kentucky Democrats, including Rep. Ben Chandler, AG Jack Conway and others are eyeing the race with interest too.  Bunning needs a walk-off home run to win this game, and unfortunately this former pitcher only hit 7 his entire career.  Toss-up.

Louisiana – David Vitter (R).  Only in Louisiana does sleeping with an escort not immediately end your political life.  Of course, this is the state that elected Huey Long after he had been impeached.  Everyone mentions Vitter among the vulernable Republicans, but a credible Democrat has yet to surface.  Leans Republican.

Maryland – Barbara Mikulski (D).  Not even Michael Steele with Steve Jobs’ bank account is getting her out.  Solid Democrat.

Missouri – Open (R).  Secretary of State Robin Carnahan has a family dynasty and a clear primary to help her flip this seat to the Democrats.  Republicans are divided between fmr State Treasurer (and ‘08 gubernatorial candidate) Sarah Steelman and Rep. Roy Blunt.  The Blunt name has been, well, dulled by fmr Gov. Matt Blunt’s tenure.  Unless something changes, this is Carnahan’s race to lose.  Lean Democrat.

Nevada – Harry Reid (D).  He’s a lightening rod for bad press and his approval rating was at 38% before the Stimulus bill.  But before the GOP starts playing “Tom Daschle, the Sequel” in their heads, they might want to find an actual opponent.  Fmr Rep. Jon Porter has been rumored but Reid has $2.7 million in his account and can likely count on millions more from outside of Nevada.  Leans Democrat.

New Hampshire – Open (R).  Democrat Rep. Paul Hodes has a clear path to November of 2010 and thanks to the lack of many major Republicans left in New Hampshire, a clearer path to Washington as well.  Most of the names mentioned on the GOP side are retreads.  Leans Democrat. 

New York - Schumer (D) & Gillibrand (D)  Which one do you want first?  Chuck Schumer’s 2010 looks as easy as possible thanks in part to the trainwreck nomination of Kirsten Gillibrand.  Every Democrat in the Empire State is circling the carcus of Gillibrand’s candidacy while the New York GOP is hoping that either Rudy Giuliani or George Pataki can be convinced to run uphill.  Gillibrand’s biggest hope is that a divided field of primary opponents allows her to squeak through.  Schumer – Solid Democrat.  Gillibrand – Favors Democrat.

North Carolina – Richard Burr (R).  Much has been made over Burr’s 35% approval rating by the notoriously far-left Public Policy Polling group.  But the poll also showed an astonishing 33% with no opinion of the first-term senator.  Is North Carolina being represented by Claude Rains?  That the 35% figure might not sink Burr can be seen by the same poll’s match-up against Secretary of State Elaine Marshall.  Burr wins 43% to 35%.  Still, not exactly a heady victory, especially when most think that AG Roy Cooper will oppose Burr instead.  Leans Republican.

North Dakota – Byron Dorgan (D).  We now know what happens when an unstoppable force (Gov. John Hoeven) meets an unmovable object (Byron Dorgan) in a hypothetical poll - the unmovable object wins 57% to 35%.  Solid Democrat.

Ohio – Open (R).  For a change in this 2010 line-up, it’s Democrats beating each other up in a primary.  Ex-Budget Director Rob Portman has gotten the backing of most of the GOP establishment.  Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher has similar backing, but has to either convince Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner to step aside or beat her outright.  But Portman still has his work cut out for him – his name ID is relatively low compared to his opponents and it shows with him getting clobbered by double digits.  Toss-up.

Oklahoma – Tom Coburn (R).  Unless outgoing Gov. Brad Henry decides to take the gamble, the Doctor is in.  Solid Republican.

Oregon – Ron Wyden (D).  Wyden’s closest senate election was defeating Gordon Smith by 1% in 1996.  It’s going to stay that way.  Solid Democrat.

Pennsylvania – Arlen Specter (R).  53% of Pennsylvania voters say they want someone else and that number is probably even higher among GOP primary voters.  ‘04 challenger Pat Toomey is probably the strongest opponent in the field right now until Democrat AG Jack Wagner decides whether or not to run.  Pennsylvania’s trending bluer and even if Specter survives, he’s no longer a shoe-in.  After New Hampshire, this might become the most likely GOP seat to flip if it’s Toomey vs. Wagner.  Toss-up.

South Carolina – Jim DeMint (R).  DeMint is golden for re-election.  Nuff said.  Solid Republican.

South Dakota – John Thune (R).  Democrat Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin just became a mother and probably didn’t ask for a tough U.S. Senate race for her baby shower.  Solid Republican.

Utah – Bob Bennett (R).  Bennett has an interesting primary challenge in David Leavitt, brother of ex-Gov. Mike Leavitt.  And that’s about as interesting as statewide Utah elections get.  Solid Republican. 

Vermont – Pat Leahy (D).  Will he even have a Republican opponent?  Solid Democrat.

Washington – Patty Murray (D).  Washington’s gotten even bluer (what hasn’t?) and Murray has token opposition.  Solid Democrat.

Wisconsin – Russ Feingold (D).  Feingold represents precisely the sort of seat that Republicans need to target to gain ground in ‘10 - a “toss-up”esque state with an incumbent whose politics are largely hard left.  But Feingold’s got $2.4 million on hand and his 11% crushing of 2004 candidate Tim Michels has probably disinterested the few major Republicans left in Wisconsin.  Where’s Tommy Thompson when you need him?  Solid Democrat.