CQ TODAY MIDDAY UPDATE
Oct. 12, 2007 – 12:34 p.m.
Senate Retirements Create Big Gap for Republicans
A historic disparity in the partisan distribution of retiring senators is creating headaches for Republican strategists, who already faced an uphill battle to regain control of the chamber.

Five of the 22 GOP senators whose seats are up for election next year, have announced they will not seek re-election. By contrast, all 12 of the Democrats whose seats are in play next year are running for new terms.

If there are no more Senate retirements — and any additional incumbent withdrawals at this point would be a surprise — the partisan distribution of “openâ€