The Midterm Roundup apologizes for its absence yesterday. Without further ado…

CT-SEN: This Ned Fellow No Joke

Ned Lamont (D) polling ahead of Joe Lieberman (D) for the first time, according to Quinnipiac.

Plus, Bill Clinton is to campaign for Senator Joe Lieberman, but like his wife Hillary, will support the winner of the Democratic primary. Hotline compiles the blogosphere’s reaction to the Clinton campaign announcement. And TPM compiles CT-SEN reader ventings.

And now, welcome to Political Party Feud! I’m your host, Richard “Roundup” Karn. It’s time to play… Fast Money, Midterm Edition!

Democrats Close Gap on GOP on Fundraising

“National Democratic Party committees closed a fundraising gap with their Republican counterparts in June, raising more money and improving their cash on hand, according to reports filed Thursday.” (AP)

DNC Begins GOTV Check-Writing; DSCC Raises $8.8M; DCCC has $6M More On Hand Than NRCC

“The Democratic National Committee opened its wallet this week, writing checks to state coordinated campaigns in Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio and Pennsylvania.” (Hotline)

House: Democratic Challengers Thriving in Money Race

“The most recent campaign finance reports filed by candidates with the Federal Election Commission gives Democratic strategists some ammunition to fire back at their doubters.” (CQ)

Dems’ Net-Powered PACs Make Fundraising an Electoral Exercise

“As the next presidential campaign begins lurching into gear, Democratic political action committees are soliciting net-roots input at the fundraising — as opposed to the electioneering — phase, via online votes on where to direct their cash.” (CQ)

House: Well-Funded Longshots Hope Bucks Will Draw Buzz

“A thorough sweep of the FEC reports by CQPolitics.com uncovered several candidates staging increasingly active longshot campaigns, which are taking root among the taller trees.” (CQ)

Democrats Plan $30 Million Ad Buy

“Signaling a new phase in the struggle for control of Congress, House Democrats have reserved time for more than $30 million worth of campaign advertising this fall in roughly two dozen congressional districts, with a heavy emphasis on the Northeast and Midwest.” (AP)

OK now, you’ve got 164 points… you need 36 points to win the game and the $20,000. Name a press-shy Iranian-American businessman who’s helping Dems rake in all the bucks. Your answer was, Hassan Nemazee. Survey saaaaaays… 36! DING DING DING DING!!!!

TX-22: Court Shmourt, This Petition Should Do the Trick

“In a couple of weeks, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals will decide whether Tom DeLay must remain on the ballot in Texas’ 22nd District. Both parties are submitting their briefs, and there might a number of amicus briefs from third parties (like, for instance, the Texas Attorney General). But Harris County Republicans are taking a more direct approach -- they've posted a petition on their website, which they say ‘will be delivered directly to the 5th Circuit.’” (TPMm)

Meanwhile the WashTimes reports that some Texas Republicans believe that a DeLay run could very well be successful.

MD: Insert Joke About Having Crabs Here

“Politicians descended on a hot slab of pavement in this small Eastern Shore town today to woo voters who, to this reporter's eye, seemed at least as interested in the crabs, clams, corn and the occasional game of beer pong as they did in the candidates.” (The Fix)

John Wagner of WaPo writes more about the Maryland crab festival, Tawes Clam Bake Serves Tradition and Candidates. And so does Jonathan Martin at Hotline, Maryland: Pinchers And Pols.

FL-SEN: Wow, This Really is Almost Not Even Fun Anymore

“Prosecutors aren't stopping with one former senior staffer to Rep. Katherine Harris (R-FL) – a second one is scheduled to talk with them soon.” (TPMm)

PA-07: Superb Fundraising Gives Sestak a Shot Against Weldon

“CQPolitics.com has changed its rating on the race to Leans Republican from the less competitive Republican Favored — a move spurred by the exceptionally strong fundraising numbers that Sestak recently reported to the Federal Election Commission (FEC), along with other factors suggesting that his bid is increasingly competitive.” (CQ)

OH-SEN: One Last, Ugly Order of Business

Yes, as one last, ugly order of business, there’s this from the Cleveland Plain Dealer (hat tip to Hotline), regarding the fabricated image of a burning twin tower in Senator Mike DeWine’s (R) latest attack ad: “The senator was unaware that the image of the towers was a graphic representation,” according to DeWine spokesman Brian Seitchik. And… *snap.*

The Midterm Roundup fully realizes how pathetic and tacky it is to claim long after the fact that it noticed this days ago upon its very first viewing of the ad but thought that it was so patently obvious that it wasn’t even worth noting, figuring as it did that actual footage simply would’ve been too offensive and that the ad was already plenty offensive as it was – but it will claim this nonetheless.

Clearly the Roundup let this one slip by. Its first big scoop, snatched away by U.S. News & World Report. But being the sore loser that it is, the Roundup will still note the absurdity of the U.S. News lede, “A controversial TV campaign ad for Ohio Sen. Mike DeWine featuring video of the burning World Trade Center towers after the 9/11 terrorist attacks was doctored, U.S. News has learned.” Yeah? How’d ya learn? Was it by watching the ad? Wait, you needed W. Gene Corley, a structural engineer who led FEMA’s post-9/11 WTC study, to figure this out? Whatever, fine. Kudos, News.

But now DeWine says he didn’t know the image was fake?!? There are three options here, and only three. The Midterm Roundup has gone through its Rolodex of all possible explanations for all things in the world and it assures you, there are only 3: 1) Mike DeWine did not view this ad before approving it and releasing it. 2) Mike DeWine is inconceivably ignorant. 3) Brian Seitchik lied to the Cleveland Plain Dealer. The Midterm Roundup does not venture to hypothesize which of these three options is the truth, but these are the possible three.

And yes, the Midterm Roundup does realize just how much damage this one single ad is doing to its heretofore impregnable sheen of breezy insouciance, hence its impulse to grant itself a new handle. The Midterm Roundup: bitter, graceless, always first on the scene!

IYI (If You’re Interested)

MN: Primaries Will Set Up a Series of Close Fall Matchups (CQ)

VT: State’s Liberal Tide Not Drowning GOP’s House (CQ)

NATIONWIDE: Of Stem Cells and Election-Year Politics (The Fix)

NATIONWIDE: GOP sees advantage in gay marriage debate (AP), and GOP agenda aims to motivate loyal voters (AP)

NATIONWIDE: Dem allies zero in on House GOP (The Hill)

NATIONWIDE: Can't Sleep? Then Consider These Brain-Teasers (National Journal’s Chuck Todd)