article_snippet.sent: But preserving Republicans new Senate majority runs a close second -- and that will be no easy task, because so many of the competitive races are in states that tend to lean blue in presidential years.
article_snippet.sent: So in Nevada, where Democrat Harry Reid is retiring, there is an intensifying effort to get Republican Rep. Joe Heck to declare Republican Rep. Joe Heck Senate candidacy.
article_snippet.sent: And in Colorado, the establishment favorite is Rep. Mike Coffman, who opened a lot of eyes with Republican Rep.
article_snippet.sent: Joe Heck 2014 race in a competitive swing district against a top-tier Democratic opponent.
article_snippet.sent: Those two states -- and those two seats -- have special significance in the 2016 maneuvering: Democrat Harry Reid and Colorado Democrat Michael Bennet won narrow 2010 victories in what was for the most part a big GOP year.
highlights_snippet.sent: GOP recruiting Senate candidates for 2016 in Nevada and Colorado .