While many reports have focused on the electoral challenges facing various senators as a result of the "grand bargain" immigration bill, Novak says that some reports suggest that Dole (R-NC) may sit more secure in her hopes of re-election as a result of debate over the bill (e.a.):

Dole's private polls put her favorability level at 59 percent, compared with President Bush's 42 percent. Republican insiders attribute that mostly to her opposing the immigration bill backed by Bush. Thanks to effective second quarter fund-raising (at a level not yet announced), Dole is sitting on an estimated $2 million. She previously had been criticized as an ineffective first-term senator, mainly because of her national chairmanship of the failed 2006 Senate campaign.