Here's today's run-down of the Congressional Races:

Dems Shell Out $7 Million In One Day On House Races
The DCCC latest FEC filings from last night show that the Dems put down over $7 million for ads in 39 races across the country, in a mix of offense and defense. The single most notable expenditure: The Dems are spending $777,000 to go after scandal-plagued Rep. Don Young (R-AK), an astonishing amount for a small and very red state.

Poll: Franken Ahead In Minnesota
A new University of Minnesota poll is giving Al Franken a narrow lead in his bid to unseat Sen. Norm Coleman (R-MN). The numbers: Franken 41%, Coleman 37%, and Independence Party candidate Dean Barkley at 14%, within the ±5% margin of error.

GOP On Defense With Ad Buys
The NRCC has been playing defense with their media buys, compared to the Dems who have done mostly offense. The Hill reports that the GOP has now put down over $2 million on ads to defend Reps. Tim Walberg (R-MI) and Steve Chabot (R-OH). On top of that, Minnesota Public Radio reports that the NRCC has reserved $126,000 worth of ad time in defense of GOP Rep. Michele Bachmann.

Dole Not Accepting Debate Invitations
The News & Observer reports that Sen. Elizabeth Dole (R-NC) has been refusing to debate her Democratic opponent Kay Hagan. A Dole spokesman said that nobody has told them of Hagan accepting a debate -- but Hagan has already accepted a few invitations. So far, Dole has only accepted one invitation -- from a right-wing talk radio host.

Dem Chances Improve In A Few Seats, But Decline For One Incumbent
CQ has changed their ratings in five House races, with all but one of them being in the Democrats' direction. Reps. Marilyn Musgrave (R-CO) and Phil English (R-PA) have been changed from "Leans Republican" to "No Clear Favorite, Rep. Mark Souder (R-IN) has been changed from "Safe Republican" to "Republican Favored," and Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL) has been switched from "Republican Favored" to "Leans Republican." The only bad spot for Dems is Rep. Paul Kanjorski (D-PA) who has been re-categorized from "Leans Democratic" to "No Clear Favorite."

Dem Ad: Dole Is The Senator For China
The DSCC is running this new ad on the economy in the North Carolina Senate race, featuring the two grumpy old men who have become the stars of their ads here. This one goes after Sen. Elizabeth Dole (R) for rewarding companies that ship jobs to China, comedically warning that we might have to learn Chinese if we want a job:

"What, she the new Senator from China?" one man says. The other replies, "Might as well be."