National Affairs: THE TIGHTEST SENATE RACES

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Up for contest this year are 35 seats in the U.S. Senate —three more than the usual 32 because of death and resignation. With Dwight Eisenhower's blessing, Republicans last week launched an all-out fight to tip the present Democratic Senate majority (49-47) back to the G.O.P. side of the aisle. The tightest races:

California. Republican Senator Tom Kuchel (rhymes with treacle), 46, backed by Nixon, Knowland and Knight forces, is battling for a second term against fast-rising State Senator Richard Richards, 40, a Los Angeles lawyer. Richards may run strong in Democratic Los Angeles County, but Kuchel's popularity in the rest of the state should carry the day. A good Republican bet.

Colorado. Former Governor (1951-54) Dan Thornton, intimate friend and longtime supporter of President Eisenhower, has set the Republican chances several notches higher by taking up the G.O.P. baton from ailing, retiring Senator Eugene Millikin (TIME, Aug. 6). Thornton's opponent: the Democratic winner of the Sept. 11 primary, probably Harry Truman's former Agriculture Secretary (1948-1953) Charles Brannan. Thornton's prospects: fair.

Connecticut. Republican Prescott Bush has worked hard and effectively in Washington, holds a slight edge over Congressman Thomas J. Dodd. Bush has a pending problem: Massachusetts' Senator John Kennedy will try out his newly won popularity—as the Democrats' also-ran vice-presidential candidate—campaigning on Dodd's behalf.

Idaho. For the Democratic nomination, Boise Attorney Frank Church, 32, barely nosed out ("by 200 votes) his primary opponent, guitar-strumming Glen Taylor, 52, 1948 Progressive Party vice-presidential nominee. Church is popular, has excellent political connections, may give trouble to Old Guard Incumbent Herman Welker.

Illinois. Honey-throated Ev Dirksen is better known than the Democrats' Richard Stengel, 41, onetime state legislator. Dirksen is clinging dearly to Eisenhower's coattails, hitting hard on civil rights, a vital issue to Illinois' 900,000 Negroes. The Hodge embezzlement scandal (TIME, July 23 et seq.) might have hurt G.O.P. chances, but Democrats have hesitated to exploit the affair until they find out how deeply some of their own people might be involved. Dirksen still leads, but Stengel is coming up.

Indiana. Republican Senator Homer Capehart still holds the fort against former Secretary of Agriculture (1940-45) Claude R. Wickard, very likely will keep his seat.

Kentucky. On the President's urging, John Sherman Cooper, U.S. Ambassador to India and two-term (1946-48, 1952-54) Senator, jumped back into Kentucky politics (TIME, July 16), is a slight favorite to win the late Alben Barkley's seat and the four-year term that goes with it. His Democratic opponent: former Governor Lawrence Wetherby. Cooper's name on the G.O.P. ticket has strengthened the chances of ex-Assistant Secretary of State Thruston Morton to win Kentucky's second seat away from Democrat Earle Clements, but Clements is the favorite.