USA Gallup is out with several new Senate polls in Virginia, Maryland, Tennessee,Rhode Island, Missouri and New Jersey, via Real Clear Politics.

Likely reflecting fallout from the Mark Foley affair, the GOP candidate in each race has slipped from their previous standing in recent polls by other organizations.

George Allen leads in Virginia, but by only 3%.

Jim Talent trails in Missouri by 3%.

Tom Kean trails in New Jersey by the same 3% margin.

Jim Corker trails in Tennessee by 5%.

Lincoln Chafee trails in Rhode land by 11%.

Michael Steele trails in Maryland by 15%.

If these polls reflect a bottoming for the GOP Senate candidates, then there is still time for most of them to catch up and win.

I suspect the fallout over the Foley scandal will be deeper and more lasting in House races, where the GOP now has to be regarded as unlikely to retain control of the House.

Richard Baehr   10 06 06