Senate Democrats face tough fight to keep majority in 2014

Election Day is four days away, but in Washington it's never too early to look ahead to the next election.

For Senate Democrats, who face a hard fight this cycle to defend their majority, 2014 is shaping up to be just as challenging, Shane Goldmacher writes in this week's National Journal magazine.

"From the start, the great challenge of 2012 for Senate Democrats has been that they must defend more than twice as many seats (23) as Republicans (10). Win or lose on Tuesday, they'll have to do it all over in 2014, as Democrats must again protect far more incumbents (20) than the GOP opposition (13). If the Democrats stumble on Election Day, they could well face four years, or more, in the minority. And if Republicans win, 2014 would present a prime opportunity to expand their new majority," Goldmacher writes.

Eager might be an understated word to describe how some Republicans see Democrats' chances.

"The cold reality is that it might be the worst map in decades for Senate Democrats," Josh Holmes, chief of staff to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell told Goldmacher.

National Journal subscribers can read more here.