VA-SEN: In the Throes of the Nightmare!

As Senator George Allen (R) tosses and quakes in his bed with febrile visions of monkeys, Mohawks, and fecal matter, challenger Jim Webb (D) is reaping the benefits, as a new Rasmussen poll shows Webb trailing by only 5 points, a 6 point swing for Webb since last month, confirming WaPo’s assessment that Allen Flap May Give A Boost To Webb. The poll was taken on August 16 – Allen’s “macaca” comment came on Friday, August 11, while the video itself and news of the incident was all over the place by Monday the 14.

And earlier, just in case anyone missed it, Greg Sargent noted a pretty interesting SurveryUSA poll that found that a majority of Virginians had heard about Allen’s comments, and 2/3 of those who had heard considered them inappropriate. And as if Allen needed this situation to get any stickier, WaPo reports: For One Group, 'Macaca' Recalls Slurs After 9/11. And the Richmond Times-Dispatch reports that with the current nature of Internet news, Allen just can’t seem to get away from his comments.

PA-SEN: Best Friends Forever!

Senator Rick Santorum (R) has found himself a new best friend in Green Party candidate Mark Romanelli. Having met a few months ago Santorum took an immediate and almost unnatural liking to Romanelli, calling him all the time, unctuously offering to do errands for him, sending him gifts and sometimes just envelopes full of cash in the mail. “I couldn’t figure it out,” Romanelli said at one point. “I mean he’s a nice enough guy I suppose, but we differ politically and ideologically on pretty much every possible issue. But I went along with it. I guess I just never had the heart to tell him I was only hanging out with him because of his money.”

Today that loving friendship is as strong as ever. And now Santorum’s friends are feeling the love too, as Paul Kiel reports that at least 2 Santorum volunteers have offered a helping hand in reviewing the 100,000 Green Party signatures that Democrats have charged are invalid. The inter-party male bond was solidified Friday when a massive bar fight broke out at the Pennsylvania Department of State. A group of Republican and Green Party volunteers wound up in a jail cell together, where after some initial awkwardness and hesitation they all spontaneously broke into a rousing group rendition of Donna Summer’s “I Will Survive.”

And you may remember that the Midterm Roundup takes a hard line when it comes to freak mammalian monsters infiltrating political campaigns. A few weeks ago the Philadelphia Inquirer reported that a giant duck was running wild amidst the Pennsylvania Senate race. Now via Sixers, the Roundup learns that a new demonic creature has penetrated the campaign, as the Philadelphia Daily News reports: “Grandpa Gorilla, a giant inflatable gorilla, will be following Sen. Rick Santorum around as he runs for re-election, according to a group angry with Santorum's stance on Social Security.” Savage and unpredictable, these mutant beasts are an absolute menace. The Midterm Roundup repeats its exhortation that they be hunted and taken out with extreme prejudice.

OH-18: Republicans Doing Democrats’ Dirty Work for Them

It’s always nice to watch your opponent self-destruct without having to lift a finger of your own. While the Ohio GOP hasn’t quite self-destructed yet, it’s looking like, as TPM Reader DK points out, they may be headed for the same noxious fate of their fellow Republicans in Texas’ 22^nd district (discussed below). Ohio Democrats have decided they don’t even need to follow through on that legal challenge to the candidacy of potential Ney replacement Joy Padgett (R) – one of her Republican opponents is already doing that. And overall, 8 Republicans have filed to run in the September 14 special primary to decide Ney’s replacement. You have to wonder if the Ohio GOP is regretting their decision to have Ney step down early instead of waiting until August 19, which would’ve allowed the GOP to handpick its nominee without a special primary at all. CQ has more on the small window the GOP nominee faces: whoever wins on September 14 will have just 8 weeks to put together a campaign against Dover Law Director Zack Space (D).

OH-03: Replacements Set for Special Primary

In other special-primary-replacements-for-maligned-Ohio-congressional-nominees news, 4 Democrats filed by Thursday’s deadline to replace Stephanie Studebaker (D) after she formally withdrew from the race following her arrest last weekend on domestic abuse charges. The replacement candidates will face off in a special primary September 15, 1 day after the GOP version in OH-18. Hopefuls include Jane Mitakides (D), who lost to Representative Mike Turner (R) in 2004 taking 38% of the vote; educator and former college basketball standout Roosevelt Chapman (D); former Waynesville mayor and perennial congressional candidate Charles W. Sanders (D); and Richard Chema (D), who resigned Friday as assistant U. S. Attorney for southern Ohio. Props to Political Wire for calling the Mitakides run back on Wednesday.

TX-22: Yep, Republicans Almost Totally Screwed

A couple days ago the Midterm Roundup remarked that a Democratic win in the 22^nd district would be all but assured if the Texas GOP couldn’t settle on one strong candidate for their write-in effort, which effort even then would be a long shot. Well it looks like they can’t even give themselves that chance. At a meeting Thursday the GOP agreed to support Houston city councilwoman Dr. Shelley Sekula-Gibbs (R) as their go-to gal. But as Paul Kiel noted on Friday, Sugar Land Mayor David Wallace (R) has decided to crash the party, refusing to abdicate his candidacy regardless of the meeting’s outcome. Roll Call has more (sub. req.).

NV-02: Recount Possible

Secretary of State Dean Heller (R) edged out Assemblywoman Sharron Angle (R) by just 428 votes out of over 70,000 cast in Nevada’s 2^nd district Republican primary August 15. Now CQ reports that a recount is possible as officials do not expect to certify the vote before sometime next week. The Las Vegas Sun reports that a canvass that will determine the final returns will be completed by Tuesday, after which Angle will have until the following Friday, August 25, to seek a recount.

CA-GOV: Tiptoeing Along the Border

It’s been said before and it will be said again: one of the major issues shaping the California gubernatorial race is illegal immigration. Plain and simple: Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) needs the votes of his Republican base, he needs the votes of California Hispanics, and those two groups usually hold opposite views on illegal immigration. The NY Times takes a look at Arnold’s balancing act.

Schwarzenegger may have a slightly easier time shoring up that party base thanks to another big issue in California: taxes. Phil Angelides has taken hits early and often for his perceived stance on raising taxes – the very first ad that Schwarzenegger ran following Angelides’ June 6 primary win charged that Angelides would “take California backwards” with his proposed tax-hike policy. And CQ reports that California Republicans released a Web video this past Monday entitled “Tax Man” that says Angelides’ proposals would require $18 billion in tax increases. However 2 days later, on Wednesday the 16, Angelides attempted to deflect the battering he’s taking over by unveiling a new plan: how ‘bout a tax… cut? Schwarzenegger hit on the issue of taxes, immigration, and more at the weekend’s state Republican Party’s convention, where he spoke Saturday. And the SacBee’s Dan Walters helps explain what it all means moving forward.

CA-04: Do We Have a Fight Here or What?

It seems like California is the land of forgotten sins, where a politician can do pretty much whatever he wants (Duke Cunningham-level blatant corruption being the cutoff point for “pretty much”) and have no fear of political consequence because so few districts are competitive. The list is dizzying: John Doolittle (R), Richard Pombo (R), Jerry Lewis (R), Gary Miller (R), Ken Calvert (R), Brian Bilbray (R), Duncan Hunter (R)… all have been involved in some sort of ethics scandal at one point or another, all are more or less safe for reelection thanks to the makeup of their respective districts. The closest races will probably be in Pombo’s 11^th district and Bilbray’s 50^th district, formerly occupied by Duke Cunningham – both races are rated Likely Republican by Roll Call and Republican Favored by CQ.

But wait… here’s 4^th district challenger Charles Brown (D) pumping a fist and belting out lyrics to his favorite Twisted Sister song. On Thursday Brown launched his first radio ads attacking Doolittle and promoting his own military background. Brown has also taken the offensive against Doolittle over the war in Iraq. Awesome, right? Well, maybe. SacBee says, “Political analysts think neither [3^rd district Rep. Dan] Lungren [(R)] nor Doolittle is in any danger, although the Cook Political Report has had Doolittle's seat on its ‘competitive’ list since April.” Well, as of August 16, CA-04 appears on Cook’s list as “Likely Republican.”

RI-SEN: Chafee and Laffey Lock Horns in 2^nd Debate

Senator Lincoln Chafee (R) and primary challenger Stephen Laffey (R) butted heads for the second time in a radio debate Thursday. Reaction from AP, Providence Journal, and Sixers. Their next debate – the first to be televised – is scheduled for August 23.

CT-SEN: Connecticut Senate Race Goes Meta

The Midterm Roundup’s mind was veritably blown asunder after reading guest blogger TPM Reader DK’s post earlier this weekend about the relative amounts of attention each Senate race is getting, and then reading Atrios’ response, and then DK’s response to that, and then Atrios’ response to that, along with Lamont Blog’s thoughts. The Midterm Roundup is really glad it ultimately decided against eating that handful of peyote buttons before sitting down to read this back and forth, but even still its mind was so twisted and eventually incapacitated by the ensuing journey through the wormholes of metaphysical introspection (in no way streamlined, the Roundup might add, by Atrios’ confounding use of the word “ratfuck” in his 2^nd response) that it has decided against issuing an opinion on the matter altogether, at least for now.

But the Midterm Roundup being the vanguard of 3^rd-person midterm election news roundup columns that it is, read by millions worldwide (and reportedly a staple on the bathroom floors of Air Force 1), it figured it would go ahead and try something new by not focusing so much on the CT-SEN race, just to see what happens. Now don’t be confused, CT-SEN will remain a featured item in every Roundup, it simply won’t be the lead item… well unless something really crazy happens, like Alan Schlesinger having a nervous breakdown and appearing on Hardball in an evening gown, weeping, clutching a fake Oscar. That’s right, CT-SEN will follow the same newsworthiness standards as every other race. Consider this a new day and a new way, with the ultimate goal being an increased awareness of other, equally-if-not-more-deserving-of-your-attention races as Election Day approaches. Of course, if after a couple days the Midterm Roundup’s readership suddenly disintegrates, the CT-SEN race will be back as the lead item immediately.

Anyway, without further ado, your CT-SEN news of the day:

Clearly ignoring the Roundup’s above clarion call, TPM is atwitter with talk of Lieberman-Lamont following Thursday’s Quinnipiac poll that has Lieberman up by double digits: Why Bush Needs Lieberman by Sidney Blumenthal, Where's Ned by Reed Hundt, and Josh Marshall wonders who had the better week following the primary, Lamont or Lieberman?

Lieberman hires some new consultants and, surprise surprise, one of them is a Republican. Hotline has more on the new hires. And Greg Sargent notes how the move flies conspicuously in the face of a June attack on Lamont by the Lieberman camp for Lamont’s hiring of a one-time Republican operative as a consultant.

TNR asks, Can Joe Lieberman make it on an indie label? (sub. req.) If so, the Hartford Courant wonders if Lieberman would retain his seniority as an official Senate independent in, Would Party Forgive Joe? Sixers boils it down to this quote: “Sen. Reid left no doubt in my mind that I would retain my seniority and committee assignments within the Senate Democratic Caucus should I be re-elected,” Lieberman said Thursday, “and that has been confirmed to me by several other members of the Democratic caucus.” Rachel Weiner has more.

Plus: Alan Schlesinger still has no friends:

G.O.P. Deserts One of Its Own for Lieberman (NYT, in which is found the nugget that Newt Gingrich has endorsed Lieberman)

Lack of Support Doesn't Surprise GOP Candidate (LA Times)

Not Since Nixon (Political Wire, noting Robert Novak’s remark that not since President Nixon has a Republican president not backed his party’s Senate nominee in any state)

GOP candidate seeks his niche in Conn. (AP)

CT-04: We Got a House Race Here

In the spirit discussed above, here’s some news on one of Connecticut’s woefully neglected House races – the 4^th district contest between Representative Chris Shays (R) and Westport First Selectwoman Diane Farrell (D). Greg Sargent noted Saturday morning that Ned Lamont’s primary win has apparently had a profound impact on Shays. One of the more ardent supporters of the war effort in Iraq in the past, Shays is now under pressure to reevaluate that stance, and he appears be doing just that. Shays embarked on his 14^th trip to the region this past week and next month plans to hold 3 hearings on whether Iraq is heading toward democracy or civil war. The Hartford Courant reports that with the tempering of Shays’s Iraq outlook, he and Farrell are “sounding more and more alike these days” on the war issue. And the Connecticut Post has more on Shays.

FL-SEN: A Tree Falls in Florida, a Tear Falls at TPM

There’s simply no way the Midterm Roundup could possibly add any more surreal comedy or gut-wrenching pathos to this Justin Rood report on Katherine Harris. The Roundup is quite honestly unsure how to proceed. While Harris has been like comedic manna from heaven for the Roundup, it has in the past expressed its hesitance in taking pleasure in her constantly regenerating maladies. Like liquid morphine, Schadenfreude can be a delicious thing, but at a certain point it will turn your stomach. This might be that point. (Of course, the Roundup will be returning to its Harris coverage with renewed zeal after a short break. Give it a couple, two three days, tops.)

FL-13: Meanwhile in Harris Country…

In case anyone missed it, the current frontrunner to replace Harris in Florida’s 13^th district, banker and former Sarasota County GOP Chair Tramm Hudson (R), made a comment this past week that would make George Allen blush. It would also probably destroy, say, a congressional campaign. Hudson later issued an apology.

IYI (If You’re Interested)

CO-07: Colorado’s 7th District Contest Gets a Spot in the Democratic ‘Must-Win’ Column (CQ)

MI-GOV: In Michigan, A Ray of GOP Hope (WaPo)

VT-SEN: Sanders Remains Favorite for Senate Seat (CQ)

WA-SEN: Cantwell’s Numbers Rise, But Challenges Remain (CQ)

NATIONWIDE: Democrats eye inroads among NASCAR fans (Wash Times)

NATIONWIDE: The YouTube Election (NYT)

NATIONWIDE: GOP's Financial Edge Shrinks (WaPo)

NATIONWIDE: The Friday Line: U.S. Senate (The Fix)

TOTALLY AWESOME NATIONWIDE: Picked up via Sixers: If you don’t know about Snakes On a Plane yet, you must live in Siberia. Either that or you have a life. Anyway, it appears that the fevered buzz surrounding the epic cinematic extravaganza (now playing everywhere), in which a bald and angry Samuel L. Jackson goes to war against a pack of deadly snakes let loose 30,000 feet above the Pacific Ocean, has now infiltrated the last realm of human existence it had yet to touch: politics. The DSCC has launched a new website entitled “Snakes on a Senate,” with which they attack 6 Republican Senate candidates, being sure to run their Ssssssss’s every chance they get. Sixers is critical of certain details of the website, but the Roundup believes that they miss the larger, more important point: the DSCC has launched a website inspired by Snakes on a Plane!!!

The Nation’s Richard Kim has more on the absolutely undeniable political relevance of Snakes. (And P.S. The Roundup cannot urge strongly enough that everyone make use of the “Get a Call from Samuel L. Jackson” feature on the Snakes website. It’s free and it’s absolutely hilarious. Once you place that first personalized call to an unsuspecting friend you will probably spend the next 5 hours placing calls to everyone you know. Either that or, again, maybe you have a life.)