Republicans believe that they are in prime shape to win at least 52 seats in the Senate with only days to go until Election Day.

The GOP has long been favored to win back the upper chamber, but the size of its majority has been in question as the party’s candidates trailed against Democratic incumbents in a number of key swing states. Several of those races have narrowed, however, buoying Republicans’ hopes in the process.

Nearly a dozen GOP senators, Senate aides and operatives with experience on Senate races predicted to The Hill that the party will hit the 52-seat mark. Most said the party brass will be left shaking their heads if they fall short of that goal.

“At this point, we have to have 52,” one GOP operative involved in Senate races said, arguing that it is necessary especially after Republicans outspent Democrats in Ohio — considered their best pickup opportunity after West Virginia and Montana — by more than $20 million this cycle.

“If we can't win a race with that level of outspending in a state Trump’s going to win between 8 to 10 points, that's a failure,” the operative said.

Republicans hold 49 seats in the Senate and are certain to pick up West Virginia, where Sen. Joe Manchin (I) is retiring. They’ve also oozed confidence for months about picking up a 51st seat in Montana, where Republican Tim Sheehy has held a consistent lead over Sen. Jon Tester (D) in the reddest state on the battlefield.

According to a recent survey by The Hill/Emerson College, Sheehy holds a 4-point advantage over the incumbent Democrat, with other polls showing that his lead is nearly double that figure.

Party operatives have also grown increasingly optimistic about the state of play in Ohio. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) is locked in a........

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