Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) chairman, outlined his party's path to victory in this fall's senate races Wednesday, also pushing back against reports that the pro-business U.S. Chamber of Commerce has donated heavily toward Republicans this election cycle.

Schumer gave a broad, fairly extensive overview of his sense of the political map in Senate election races during the 30-minute press conference Wednesday. The Chamber’s efforts have been futile, he said, because issues and trends are heavily favoring Democratic candidates.

“The wind is more strongly at our back than ever,” he said. “The message of economic change is just succeeding everywhere, and so over the past three weeks we’ve seen a dramatic shift in our direction.”

Among the highlights:

• A DSCC-funded ad is being launched today against Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) in Kentucky, criticizing McConnell over the economy but not his vote for the $700 billion bailout plan approved by the Senate last week. Schumer also voted for the bailout.
• The DSCC’s ads against Republicans will focus more on the conditions that created the country’s poor economic conditions, and less on the bailout bill, Schumer suggested, although specific tactics will be up to the candidates.
• DSCC polling shows the party’s Senate candidates “significantly ahead” in five states (Virginia, New Mexico, Colorado, New Hampshire and Alaska), tied in six others (Oregon, North Carolina, Mississippi, Georgia, Minnesota and Kentucky) and “closing the gap” in Maine.
• The DSCC remains “worried” about voter intimidation tactics by Republican operatives in states like Georgia and Mississippi, which are expecting a higher-than-normal African-American turnout this year, and has devoted resources to field work in those states. Schumer said he expects “a fervor” among African-American voters in the South.
• In Georgia, where incumbent Republican Saxby Chambliss faces Democrat Jim Martin, DSCC polling reflects public polls that show the race virtually tied. “Georgia is closing and it’s a state we’re taking a very close look at,” Schumer said.
• In Alaska, Mark Begich’s race against Republican incumbent Ted Stevens “is a race we expect to win.” Begich was polling ahead of Stevens even before Stevens’ corruption trial, Schumer said.
• A Democratic win in Texas would be “surprising,” since the state’s size makes it a difficult state in which to advertise. Democrat Rick Noriega has consistently polled behind Republican incumbent John Cornyn.
• In Colorado, Democrat Mark Udall still has a significant lead over Republican Bob Schaffer, despite the Chamber’s heavily-funded ad campaign against Udall. Schumer said a DSCC poll puts Udall up by 11 points in the race to succeed retiring Sen. Wayne Allard (R-Co.).
• In New Hampshire, Democrat Jeanne Shaheen also remains up by 10 points over incumbent Republican John Sununu, according to DSCC polls. Schumer said the race tightened somewhat after the Republican National Convention but then reverted.
• In Oregon, Democrat Jeff Merkley has pulled ahead of Republican incumbent Gordon Smith by “two or three or four points,” DSCC polls show.
• In North Carolina, Democrat Kay Hagan has pulled ahead of Republican incumbent Elizabeth Dole by “four or five” points.
• The race is even in Mississippi, where incumbent Republican Roger Wicker faces Democrat Ronnie Musgrove. Schumer said he expects a significant African-American turnout due to the presidential candidacy of Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.)
• In Minnesota, Democrat Al Franken has pulled ahead of incumbent Republican Norm Coleman. Schumer said a recent public poll had Franken up by four points, although a DSCC poll showed Franken’s lead as “even more.” Schumer said he still considers the race tied because the trend is fairly new.

-J. Taylor Rushing