Joe Lieberman displays his trademark inspiring/nauseating nonpartisan magnanimity, Michael Steele attracts a 1-2 punch of the worst the sports world has to offer, and the Midterm Roundup shows you the money! It’s official – under 3 weeks to go.

CT-SEN: We Get it Joe, You’re Above Partisanship. Now Please, SHUT… UP.

AP reports: “Sen. Joe Lieberman, running as an independent after losing the Democratic primary, said Tuesday he hoped Democrats seize control of Congress _ with one caveat: a Democratic-led Congress, he said, must change its ways.

“Lieberman has said he will not endorse Democratic candidates because he understands that his candidacy has put Democratic candidates in an awkward position, and has said he would stay out of their races.”

And this morning the Hartford Courant takes a look back at Lieberman’s definitely-not-the-slightest-bit-maddening-or-even-confusing-in-any-way-whatsoever-how-could-it-be record on social security with: A Changing Record On Social Security.

Yyyyyyup, pretty sick of this guy.

Oh wait – maybe this will change everyone’s mind: Joe Lieberman likes John Bolton for the UN! The Midterm Roundup will now go lie face down in the middle of the street.

Plus, the Courant reports that today’s debate featuring all 5 candidates – to which sponsor WFSB-TV­ was planning on restricting media access – will now be open to outside news organizations for same day coverage.

MD-SEN: Don’t Expect this One to Make it onto the Campaign Website

Lieutenant Governor Michael Steele (R) has won himself a doozy of a supporter in boxer (technically, though really more of a former boxer) Mike Tyson. AP reports: “At the news conference in Ohio, where he will return to the ring Friday night, Tyson wore a white-and-blue ‘Steele for U.S. Senate’ T-shirt as he posed for photos with fans and signed autographs. Tyson said he used to believe black Republicans were ‘sellouts,’ but he said he changed his mind after researching the Maryland lieutenant governor.”

The Plank’s Jason Zengerle points out that Tyson is Steele's ex-brother-in-law. Weird.

Speaking of sellouts… Don King! On Monday Steele won the endorsement of the man who’s played an even greater role than Tyson in destroying the credibility of the sport of boxing, a man the Roundup would argue is most responsible for destroying the sport of boxing, and quite possibly the most insidious force in all of American professional sports, promoter Don King. For those who know King only by his famous hair, the Roundup hastens to inform you that King has been sued by no fewer than 7 of the boxers he has promoted over the years (at least that’s how many wikipedia counts). He’s been to court so many times on such a vast array of charges over the years that he himself estimates he’s spent upwards of $30 million on legal fees. Oh yeah – King has also killed 2 people. Great endorsement though. Kudos to Steele.

Meanwhile this past Sunday Benjamin Cardin (D) won an endorsement of his own – from the Baltimore Sun.

Race continued to play a prominent part in the campaign yesterday as Steele accused House Minority Whip Steny H. Hoyer (D) of racial insensitivity for his comment that Steele had had “a career of slavishly supporting the Republican Party.” Hoyer later apologized for the comment.

And as for the money picture: both candidates raised roughly the same amount in the 3^rd quarter (nearly $2 million for Cardin, $1.9 million for Steele) while Steele holds the edge in cash on hand, $2.1 million to $1.6 million.

NC-13: Vernon Robinson On the Loose!

Midterm Roundup favorite Vernon Robinson (R), challenging Representative Brad Miller (D), ran a characteristically ridiculous ad back in September all about Miller’s obsession with sex, which included the line “Brad Miller spent your money to study the masturbation habits of old men.” Robinson was let loose to hurl his charges live in person, as he and Miller debated Tuesday.

The debate touched on issues ranging from Iraq to North Korea to illegal immigration, but Vernon just wanted to talk about sex, baby. According to the AP, Robinson charged that Miller wants to import homosexuals to the United States and supported scientific studies that would pay teenage girls to watch pornography. “Robinson repeatedly talked about how Miller voted in 2003 to support a package of research grants for the National Institutes of Health, noting that they contained research on the sexual arousal of girls, the masturbation habits of old men and other sex-themed studies.”

After the debate Miller, who reportedly appeared bemused throughout the proceedings, said, “It's clear that Vernon Robinson is obsessed with sex.”

PA-SEN: Breaking News: Rick Santorum Kind of a Jackass

Salon.com got it first and then so did Carpetbagger Report and Think Progress, but the Midterm Roundup feels obligated to pass this on, just in case you missed it. In an interview with the editorial board of the Bucks County Courier Times last week, Rick Santorum equated the war in Iraq with J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings: “As the hobbits are going up Mount Doom, the Eye of Mordor is being drawn somewhere else. It's being drawn to Iraq and it's not being drawn to the U.S. You know what? I want to keep it on Iraq. I don't want the Eye to come back here to the United States.” The Roundup can't be absolutely certain, but it's pretty sure this story wasn't completely made up.

So yeah, that’s pretty stupid. But you know, maybe it’s just kind of playful and silly. How about something a little more perfidious? Ah, here we go (from the same article, regarding withdrawal from Iraq): “I don't think you ask that question. I know that's the question everybody wants to ask. But I don't think anyone would ask that question in 1944, ‘Gee, how long are we going to be in Europe?’ We're going to be in Europe until we win.”

That’s why the Roundup picks on K-Lo.

And… The Big 3

MO-SEN: Talent and McCaskill Differ on Economy

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch takes a focused look at the differing stances of Senator Jim Talent (R) and challenger Claire McCaskill (D) when it comes to economic issues like taxes, minimum wage, and job creation.

Uh, yeah… that’s really about it for MO-SEN today. More tomorrow.

TN-SEN: Corker Raises Dough, but Ford May Have God on His Side

For the 3^rd quarter Bob Corker (R) took in about $3.9 million compared to Harold Ford, Jr.’s (D) $2.2 million. But Ford leads Corker in cash on hand, roughly $772,000 to $498,000.

The Memphis Commercial Appeal issued a questionnaire to the 2 candidates and found in response that they have staked out similarly conservative positions on a host of economic issues like the income and estate taxes, minimum wage, and social security.

WVLT Knoxville reports that with just 21 days to go, the tone of the campaign may have taken a turn as television ads become less attack-oriented and more focused on positive portrayals of the candidate.

The Chicago Tribune recently did a big profile of Ford: Tenn. candidate blurs borders on race, party, past.

And Hotline focused a lot of attention on the Tennessee Senate race yesterday. On Monday night the Christian Broadcasting Network’s 700 Club featured a report on the Corker-Ford race that very much seemed to present Ford in the more positive light, at least when it comes to religion. Writes Joshua Green, “When a Republican in Tennessee has lost Pat Robertson and the Christian Broadcasting Network, things are indeed grim.”

Hotline also notes an inscrutable NRSC press release that appears to condemn Ford for… dating. For the record, the Midterm Roundup does not condemn Ford for dating, especially since the date in question was Julia Baugher, a.k.a. Julia Allison (who ironically enough is a sex and dating advice columnist for AM New York), who the Roundup would submit is mind bogglingly hot. Julia, if you’re reading this, the Midterm Roundup would love to hang out some time. The Roundup is a very successful, very disease-free young man living in Manhattan’s East Village. The Roundup’s number is 718-216-9071. But it must warn you, even on dates the Roundup will insist on referring to itself in the 3^rd person as “the Midterm Roundup.”

VA-SEN: WaPo Endorses Jim Webb

Shocking! WaPo doesn’t like George Allen! “As a candidate, Mr. Webb has had a steep learning curve; to his credit, he has acknowledged it. Mr. Allen lacks any comparable independent-mindedness. … He is no one's idea of a heavyweight in the Senate. Virginians deserve better and more enlightened representation. Mr. Webb offers that hope.”

Plus, call the Midterm Roundup a sucker, call it a biased Webb-sympathizer/Allen-hater, but it can’t help but think pretty highly of Jim Webb after reading an article like this one. WaPo reports that Webb doesn’t like talking about his military service. “Webb, who has a son serving in Iraq, said he has disagreed with advice from his aides and others who have told him that voters get to know candidates through their personal stories. Although the race is close, polls show that Virginians know more about Allen than Webb. But Webb said it is improper to use military service in an overtly political way.”

Webb also criticized Allen for repeatedly talking about the death of a constituent’s son in Iraq, telling the Post, “I don't think it's right to use somebody's service directly for a political reason. When [Allen] talks about the validity of the effort in terms of an individual who was killed in Iraq, I think that's wrong. Too many people have too many different feelings about why they serve."

And also – so much for that anti-women attacking point. The conservative NRO shot it down back in September, but this should finally put it to sleep: the Washington Times reports, “Democrat James H. Webb Jr. yesterday picked up an endorsement from nine military women, a key voting bloc that political analysts say the candidate needs in order to upset U.S. Sen. George Allen of Virginia in the Nov. 7 election.” The women called Webb a “man of integrity,” and retired Army Lt. Col. And Democratic activist Kate Wilder said, “He recognizes the crucial role that women have in the armed forces today, and the sacrifices that they're making alongside their male counterparts in the toughest assignments in Afghanistan and Iraq."

And now… Let’s Go Crazy Campaign Money Style!

NY-20: Sweeney and Gillibrand Neck and Neck in Fundraising

The Albany Times Union reports, “In the most recent month, Sweeney raised $449,514, compared with $412,546 for Gillibrand, the Democrat from Greenport. In the third quarter of the year, Sweeney raised $732,530, compared with $615,478 for Gillibrand. So far, Sweeney has raised a total of $2,386,002 and has $640,978 cash on hand. Gillibrand has raised $1,830,838 during the campaign and has $496,242 cash on hand.” The same article also notes a new DCCC poll that has Gillibrand trailing Sweeney by only 1 point, 42%-41%, which the Sweeney camp calls bogus.

And hey, Representative John Doolittle (R-CA) is back in the news for his Jack Abramoff connections. Why can’t John Sweeney get a piece of the action as well? Wait, he can! The Times Union gives Sweeney some love with Sweeney trip in question: “U.S. Rep. John Sweeney may have violated congressional ethics rules by failing to reveal who paid for a trip he took to a Pacific island with a lobbyist hired by convicted Washington influence peddler Jack Abramoff.”

WA-08: Burner had Better September, but Reichert Still Leads

Former Microsoft executive Darcy Burner (D) outraised Representative Dave Reichert (R) $473,000 to $292,000 in the month of September. But Reichert reported an overall $1.3 million on hand compared to Burner’s $780,000.

With the candidates running neck and neck in the polls, this past Sunday the Seattle Times endorsed Representative Reichert, with which liberal Washington blogs like Northwest Progressive and HorsesAss took particular exception.

And on Monday the Times provided a space for Burner and Reichert to answer questions about the war in Iraq. Pretty standard Democrat v. Republican fare here – Burner supports a timeline for withdrawal, Reichert wants to stabilize the country; Burner wouldn’t have voted for invasion in 2002, Reichert thinks it’s impossible to say in hindsight considering the flawed intelligence; etc. The Times takes a closer look at political newcomer Burner’s war stance with Burner carefully balances her position on Iraq war.

For much, much more money data CQ has compiled a chart (pdf) of both fundraising and cash on hand numbers for all the major House races. Here are some other numbers that stuck out:

CA-50: Challenger Francine Busby (D) outraised Representative Brian Bilbray (R) by over $1 million and leads in cash on hand by over $125,000. Plus a SurveyUSA poll released Monday has Busby trailing Bilbray by only 3 points. Despite all that, Busby is still seen as a big underdog in the heavily Republican, formerly Duke Cunningham-harboring district.

IN-08: Challenger Brad Ellsworth (D) appears to be far more active than Representative John Hostettler (R) in the 3^rd quarter. Ellsworth raised almost $1.5 million and spent over $1 million while Hostettler raised a little over $450,000 and spent less than $200,000. Ellsworth leads in cash on hand by almost $150,000.

In a piece in this morning’s Wall Street Journal Jeanne Cummings writes, “In Indiana, Republican Rep. John Hostettler's lackluster fundraising may have caught up with him.” At a Monday luncheon Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) raised $50,000, to be evenly distributed among Ellsworth and fellow Dem challengers Baron Hill (9^th dist.) and Joe Donnelly (2^nd dist.).

Hostettler has kept an unusually low profile in the past month, so low in fact that one prominent political analyst concluded that Hostettler had essentially pulled the plug on his own reelection campaign, but Hostettler denies this.

IL-06: While Iraq war veteran Tammy Duckworth (D) outraised state Senator Peter Roskam (R) in the 6^th district’s open seat race, she trails significantly in cash on hand, with just over $200,000 compared to Roskam’s $1.5 million. The filing has led some to believe that Duckworth’s campaign peaked too early, but the DCCC is expected to pour more into this race in the final weeks and the campaign will be given a boost from a fundraiser next week with Bill Clinton.

IL-08: In one of the few tough reelection races for Democratic incumbents, challenger David McSweeney (R) slightly outraised Representative Melissa Bean (D) and has double the cash on hand.

Bean and McSweeney recently answered a questionnaire posed by the Chicago Daily Herald. Most notably, Bean does not favor a specific deadline for withdrawal from Iraq, and McSweeney favors creating privatized social security accounts.

For more on both Bean’s and Duckworth’s surprising money numbers, the AP reports, For candidates, the bottom line may not always be what it seems.

OH-02: Representative Jean Schmidt (R) raised over 3 times as much as challenger Victoria Wulsin ($1.8 million to $516,000) but spent 6 times as much ($1.575 million to $252,000). And Wulsin has more cash on hand ($263,000 to $224,000). The 2 have been jockeying back and forth in the polls.

For an overall look at the Senate money numbers, Hotline delivers: All the candidates, all their monies, all the hot races, one document, click here. The Roundup will let them do the analysis.

For yet more money analysis, The Hill has Having money isn’t everything, but it can be deciding factor.

And WaPo reports this morning, Funding Constrains Democrats: “Top Democrats said yesterday that they are planning to significantly expand the number of GOP House seats they will target during the final 20 days of the campaign but that financial disputes and fundraising problems are hindering the effort.”

IYI (If You’re Interested)

CO-04: CO-04: Marylin Musgrave vs. Angie Paccione (Human Events)

CT-04: Shays’ Uncharacteristic Comments Raise Questions in Conn. 4 (CQ)

NJ-SEN: Different approaches from Kean, Menendez (The Hill)

TX: Discontent With GOP Finds Way Into Texas (AP)

And in case you missed it, Josh noted yesterday morning: NRCC pulling the plug on the challenger to Rep. Chet Edwards (D) down in Texas. That would be Van Taylor (R), the lone Iraq war veteran who is running as a Republican in the 2006 midterm elections. For a taste of what kind of a candidate Taylor is, the Roundup might direct you to a video it linked to back in August of Taylor’s jaw-dropping performance on Hardball. And, as if a nail in the coffin, The Hill reports: Air War: Edwards’s ads edge those of Taylor in Texas-17.

NATIONWIDE: Could an "October surprise" shape the midterm election? (Reuters)

NATIONWIDE: Rove foresees GOP victory (Wash Times), plus Hotline notes that Dick Cheney also thinks Republicans have a “good shot” at holding both chambers in November, which would be kind of a funny phrase to use if you’ve ever shot anyone in the face with a rifle. But Raw Story reports: GOP sources say party losing hope of victory. Discuss the White House’s puzzling midterm confidence with other TPM readers here.

NATIONWIDE: Another Brick in the (Scandal) Wall (The Fix)

FOLEYGATE: Despite poll numbers and Foley scandal, Republicans not vowing major changes, and Seeking post-Foley unity (both The Hill)