Washington ? Democrats are pleased that former U.S. Rep. Jim Slattery is running for the U.S. Senate in Kansas, but a party leader on Tuesday called the race one of the toughest to win this year.

New York Sen. Charles Schumer, chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, rated Kansas among the most challenging of 17 races where Democrats are targeting Republican Senate seats.

“Right now it is a hard state to win, but that doesn’t mean it will stay that way,” Schumer said at a news conference that offered a preview of key races around the country.

“We think this is a winnable race and we think Jim is a great candidate,” Schumer said.

Slattery decided to challenge Kansas Republican Sen. Pat Roberts after Democratic candidate Greg Orman dropped out earlier this year.

Republicans hold 23 of the 34 Senate seats up for election this year. Democrats are targeting 17 of those seats, including Roberts’.

Overall, Schumer brimmed with optimism at the chance that Democrats could pick up seats and pad their slim majority in the Senate.

Schumer said he was worried the presidential race would scoop up all the contributions, but the DCCC has managed to haul in more money than in the last election cycle and is outraising its Republican counterpart.