Has the GOP snatched defeat from the jaws of victory in Senate races? (UPDATE)

My, how things can shift. Or as suspected, they never really did. How could this be, when Democrats, including their president, are on such a destructive path? And hasn't the media been spelling doom for Democrats? Might I suggest a couple of things in the form of questions themselves? First, what makes anyone think that the liberal media would willingly give Republicans positive airtime, if not to simply instill false hope? But even if it were accurate reporting of results, they'd still skew favor towards the Democrats, because they are Democrats! Secondly, and more importantly, could it be that Republicans aren't giving Americans much of an alternative to be inspired by? Just look at the way the establishment of the party has behaved during the primary season. This should put the theory to rest that we have to go with the incumbent class to win...but it won't. If they manage to squeak out a slim majority, they'll take all the glory for it. But when they don't regain the Senate (and possibly teeter on the House), they'll continue to point the finger of blame at tea party conservatives, while the other three point back at the real culprits... 

HotAir: It was only weeks ago that Republicans appeared likely to win control of the U.S. Senate in November. As pollsters began to shift over to likely voter models after Labor Day, their findings were not surprising; Republicans were much more enthusiastic about heading to the polls in November, and the generic congressional ballot began to show the public favored the GOP over Democrats by wide margins.

The state-level polling, however, is telling a different story. As more surveys of key battleground races are taken, election forecasters are revising their predictions. Probability models from a variety of respected analysts are now indicating that the race for control of the Senate is, at best, a tossup. Some are even leaning toward the notion that Democrats will retain control of the chamber.

Likewise, as Mark Levin exclaims, "It would be a damn shame if the first female president in American history is Hillary Clinton." It certainly would be, but again, what effective alternative is the Republican establishment presenting? Romney again? Another Bush? Inconsistent faux conservatives from Rubio to Rand? There are some genuine conservative leaders out there...but the Republican Party is too damn scared to embrace consistent principles that might return America to a constitutional rule of law (i.e., smaller government in our lives, while actually safeguarding American sovereignty).

But before we even get to 2016, has the GOP snatched defeat from the jaws of victory in the upcoming November midterms? If so, they'll have no one to blame but themselves. Conservatives have tried to reform the party and continue to be rejected for it.

Related links: Paradigm shift: The quiet party of no articulation prepares for a midterm win
Why Republicans are heading towards another loss
Senate Update: Democrats Draw Almost Even. Is It The Money?
Democrats Now Have a Seventy-Per-Cent Chance of Retaining Control of the Senate
Boehner: Obama’s request for authorization to arm the Syrian “moderates” is a sound one

UPDATE: In a heated midterm contests, WaPo reports that GOP candidates are exploring a move to the middle...'cause that's worked so well since '08, NOT!

In a midterm election year in which the political climate and map of battleground states clearly favors Republicans, many GOP candidates are nevertheless embracing some Democratic priorities in an effort to win over skeptical voters.

The shift is evident in some of the most contentious Senate and gubernatorial races — in traditional swing states as well as decidedly conservative ones such as Alaska and Arkansas — where Republican nominees have endorsed increases to the minimum wage, legalizing medical marijuana or granting in-state college tuition to some illegal immigrants.

Even on social issues, an area where the GOP traditionally has hewed to the wishes of its evangelical Christian base, many Senate hopefuls have backed same-sex marriage or over-the-counter access to birth-control pills.

Buoyed by President Obama’s deep unpopularity, the Republican Party is positioned to reclaim a national governing majority for the first time in nearly a decade by winning control of the Senate. But Republicans have little margin for error, and most key races remain tossups.

That can't have anything to do with not providing an articulate, principled alternative? Naaa...they need to continue listening to the consultant class and practicing compassion conservatism that gives the win to Democrats every time. Oh, wait...