The Act – Violence Against Women – was approved by a 68-31 vote and would reauthorize over $650 million for programs devoted to helping protect women. The Democrats in the Senate were joined by 15 Republicans in passing the bill. However, the bill still faces a challenge in the House, as Republicans have planned to propose an alternative.

The author of the bill, Patrick Leahy a Vermont Senator, said the passing of the bill was just one example of what the Senate can accomplish when it works together. In most cases, a reauthorization has bipartisan help, but during the last year, Congress had been enmeshed in partisan wrangling that has taken control of nearly all that is voted on.

Democrats in the Senate wanted to expand the bill to ensure protections for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender individuals. Their version has 61 cosponsors and also sought an increase in the number of visas given to immigrant women who were or had faced abuse.

An alternative from the Republicans almost completely skipped those additional provisions and had new ones that most Democrats would not support, including sentences being mandatory for certain convictions. However, Republican Senators opted against a prolonged battle during this election year, in which they have been accused by Democrats of warring against women.

According to critics, there are 9 potential challengers, 2 of which already hail from Missouri and Virginia, while weighing bids for the U.S. Senate. The Dems have an abundance of targets available to them. In accordance to their predictions, 21 out of the 33 Senate seats are already theirs. The year 2012 will be holding up a 53-47 Senate advantage in the new Congress that will convene on Jan. 5.

However, nothing can be said beforehand because politics are a tough game to go along with so called predictions. Seeing to the fact that anything can change at the last minute, a lot of Democrats are holding back on expressing their opinions about anything major. “I want to do my part in fighting for America’s future. That’s why I have decided to run for the United States Senate,” Republican Sarah Steelman said in announcing her challenge to Missouri Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill.

Yesterday, I covered a report about George Allen’s intentions as per his future in politics. Allen could be posing a threat against the Democratic Sen. Jim Webb, because both of them have been sharpening their blades against each other since 2006.

“Sen. Allen was a great governor of Virginia, he really was,” said Corey Stewart, a Republican, “But his record in the United States Senate was mediocre. And I don’t think most people in Virginia think of him as a great United States senator. They think of him as a great governor.”

She stirred up the young and old hearts by opening up with one liners like;

* “Let me ask you something Massachusetts – Are you in love with your freedom? Bostonians have and will never be scared of standing up for the right cause and they’ll speak up about those principals they’ve always believed in”

* “Look at what we all did back in January – we shook up the United States Senate”

This was said in reference to the surprise Senior Scott Brown election – which angered thousands of Tea Party activists and they showed their feelings by not attending the event. Palin wittingly attacked President Obama in her 22 minute speech and said that we are here to take care of people like Obama, Pelosi and Reid by voting them out.

Sarah Palin was one of the key speakers in the 47 stop long tour, held by Tea Party activists – across the country. The final stop will be in Washington DC on April 15th (the tax day).