Now that Democrats have cleared the first hurdle in the U.S. Senate on health care legislation, look for Republicans to target every single one of those Democratic Senators who is running for election in 2010.

And why not?  It's a pretty simple campaign formula when you think about it.

Because every one of those Senators up before the voters in 2010 had a chance to vote 'no' on Saturday night and stop the Democratic health care bill.

Instead, they all stuck together, and the Democrats barely mustered the 60 votes they needed to start a health care debate after Thanksgiving.

There are 15 Democrats who are trying to extend their terms in office next year from the Senate, ranging from Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid to Sen. Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas to newly appointed Sen. Michael Bennet of Colorado.

I mention those three because Reid is an obvious target, Lincoln's poll numbers have sagged, and Bennet is a political novice who was appointed to the seat, and will have to run in a difficult environment next year.

Otherwise, most of the Democrats up next year in the Senate are in safe seats, and would only be tossed out of office if there is a GOP wave.

But with double digit unemployment nationwide, GOP strategists believe some of those "safe" seats might well be in play, and that's a hunch which cannot be ignored right now.

If you are looking for the last time the Republicans had big gains in the Senate, that would be in the elections of 1994, when they picked up eight seats and turned a Democratic majority into a 52-48 GOP advantage.

Who knows what 2010 will bring when it comes to change in the Congress, but you know that it has to be weighing on the minds of some of these Democratic Senators.

I can hear that 30 second ad right now....

"Senator (insert name) had the chance to stop the Democratic health care bill - (ominous music) but he/she voted against your interests. (more ominous music)  Send a message by electing someone new...etc."