(Reuters) - A year ago, Republicans seemed headed toward capturing the U.S. Senate, now held by Democrats, 53-47. But then things went awry, beginning with the surprise decision in February by Republican Senator Olympia Snowe to surrender her relatively safe seat and retire and, most recently, a series of attention-grabbing comments about rape by Republican candidates who could have unseated Democrats. Thirty-three of the Senate's 100 seats are being contested, of which 23 are held by Democrats. ...
