Article snippet: Republicans are increasingly optimistic about their chances of expanding their narrow Senate majority after the polarizing confirmation battle over Supreme Court Justice MORE. In the weeks since a series of sexual misconduct allegations were raised against Kavanaugh, the GOP has seen candidates in the Republican strongholds of Texas and Tennessee strengthen their positions, putting possible upset bids by Democrats on hold. Republicans are increasingly bullish on their chances of gaining a seat in North Dakota, where Sen. MORE (D) in Missouri. Both Democrats voted against Kavanaugh's confirmation. “If you look at the polling we’ve seen in the last four or five days, it’s become clear that states like North Dakota and Missouri are moving in the Republicans’ direction,” said Matt Mackowiak, a GOP strategist. “Most importantly, the opportunity that existed for Democrats in Tennessee and Texas looks like it's on the way out,” he said. In Arizona and Nevada, widely seen as the best pickup opportunities for Democrats, recent polls suggest that the GOP is holding its own. One poll released Wednesday by Phoenix-based pollster OH Predictive Insights showed Rep. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) trailing Rep. MORE (R-Ariz.) by 6 points. While most other recent polls show Sinema with a narrow lead, the race to succeed retiring Sen. MORE (R-Ariz.) appears to be tightening. A Fox News poll conducted around the same time as the OH Predictive Insights survey showed Sinema ahead by 2 poin... Link to the full article to read more