Everyone knew that the Democrats were going to make gains in the U.S. Senate tonight.  The real question was whether or not they'd be able to reach a filibuster-proof 60-seat majority, and kick Joe Lieberman out into the gutter once and for all.

Unfortunately, their plan for those 60 seats has a picked up a little too much Joementum along the way.  The Dems were counting on picking up at least one Senate seat in the South – either in Mississippi, Georgia, or Kentucky.

It's looking like that Southern Strategy isn't going to work out . . .

* Republican minority leader Mitch McConnell has apparently held off a very strong challenge from Democrat Bruce Lunsford, winning by just a couple percentage points.

* In Mississippi, recently appointed Republican incumbent Roger Wicker looks almost certain to defeat former Democratic Governor Ronnie Musgrove.

* Georgia is still undecided . . . incumbent Republican Saxby Chambliss leads, but the results from the Democratic stronghold of Atlanta are still trickling in.

Watch this space for more updates as the evening proceeds . . .