Republican Sen. Elizabeth Dole's early defeat in North Carolina Tuesday is a really bad sign for the GOP on a night when Pennsylvania has already been called for Democrat Barack Obama. One Republican strategist tells Campaign Insider that Dole's defeat may mean a big shift in Southern politics.

Strategist John Feehery says the Dole race was perhaps the most important down-ballot marker for Republicans Tuesday night...

"With a victory there would be a sense that there is some residual strength for Republicans in the South. But a loss shows there's a new day dawning in Southern politics."

As of 9 p.m. Democrats have picked up a total of four U.S. Senate seats, including victories for Democrat Jeanne Shaheen in New Hampshire, Tom Udall in New Mexico and Mark Warner in Virginia.

Shane D'Aprile is web editor at Politics magazine. sdaprile@politicsmagazine.com