Here's today's run-down on the Congressional races: Republicans are reacting to the economic crisis and the bad poll numbers with some apparently twisted and phony attacks against the Dems.

GOP Accused Of Twisting Video Of Franken
It looks like the NRSC, in their zeal to paint Al Franken as angry and unstable, have seriously twisted some key video out of context. Minnesota blog MNPublius found that the NRSC repeatedly used in their TV ads video of Franken yelling out, "You can take this guy!" in a manic fashion -- but it looks like he was doing an impression of the late Sen. Paul Wellstone at his son's track and field meets. Here's the original video:

McConnell Campaign Accused Of Lying To Veteran For Campaign Ad
Oh boy. Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell (KY) has been airing attack ads charging that a chain of veterans' clinics run by Dem opponent Bruce Lunsford have offered inferior care. However, it turns out one of the veterans in the ad now says he was lied to and his words taken totally out of context. Now that same veteran is doing a Lunsford ad:

"Tricking veterans, twisting their words -- how low will Mitch McConnell go?" the announcer says. In response, McConnell has a revised ad without that particular veteran, and with other veterans who directly blast Lunsford by name.

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Here's tonight's run-down of the Congressional races: Dems are continuing to hammer the Republicans on the economy, as the GOP faces some more bad poll numbers.

GOP Rep: I Wouldn't Have Picked Palin
Rep. Mark Kirk (R-IL) told the Chicago Tribune, "Quite frankly, I don't know" whether Sarah Palin is qualified to be president. In a very frank admission, Kirk added, "I would have picked someone different." As the Tribune noted, Kirk was initially a vocal supporter of Palin's nomination when it was first announced. (Via Progress Illinois)

Dem Ad: Coleman's Attacks Against Franken Are Ridiculous
The DSCC has this funny ad out, mocking the GOP's attacks against Al Franken:

"Al Franken sank this ship! Crashed these trains! And he hates puppies!" the announcer says. There is one problem, though: This ad is reminiscent of the humorous "Steele hates puppies" ad from the 2006 Maryland Senate race -- and Michael Steele lost by ten points.

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In another sign of just how badly the House Republicans are struggling with candidate recruitment, the NRCC has now failed after multiple entreaties to recruit a big name for the open seat in Arizona -- even though a strong Republican would probably be favored to win it.

State Senate President Ken Bennett announced today that he will not be running for the seat of Rep. Rick Renzi, who is retiring due to ethics scandals. The Democrats have a strong candidate lined up in former state Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick, while Republicans have been struggling to find a big name -- Bennett even turned them down previously, before they got him to briefly reconsider.

The district voted 54%-45% for President Bush in 2004, and having native son John McCain at the top of the ticket could only help the GOP nominee. But it would seem this is another case of Republicans being less than eager to run for the House -- perhaps the biggest risk is winning, and then serving in what is expected to be a powerless GOP minority.

And another one drops, bringing the number of House GOPers who are retiring to five. And counting.

Muck-encrusted GOP Rep. Rick Renzi of Arizona won't seek reelection, he says in a statement to Roll Call (sub only):

“I will not be seeking re-election to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2008. I am honored and thankful to serve Arizona’s first district and appreciate all that we have accomplished together over the past 6 years.”

Renzi's departure swells the list of GOP Reps. planning to step down at the end of the 110th Congress, a list that now includes Reps. Ray LaHood, Deborah Pryce, Chip Pickering, and former speaker Dennis Hastert.

Though Bush won the GOP leaning district by 54%-46% in 2004, the Dems are considered to have at least a decent shot at flipping it. Dem State Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick recently resigned and announced she'll make a bid for the seat, and at least two other Dems are talking about running.

Renzi's retirement, however, does allow the GOP to try to find a candidate for the district who isn't weighed down by his ethical baggage. Though he was able to survive a tough challenge last year, his political situation has worsened in the wake of an FBI raid of a business linked to his family, a raid that was part of a federal probe into his Congressional activities.

Check out our full coverage of Renzi over at TPMmuckraker.

"Embattled Rep. Rick Renzi (R-Ariz.) tapped down speculation Thursday that he is telling his allies that he will not seek re-election — but he appears to be leaning toward the exit door rather than seeking a fourth term."

So reports Roll Call. Nor does the Muck-encrusted Renzi appear to be doing much to deny that he's on his way out, either. He gave this choice quote to the paper: “To be honest, I was never going to be here a great while. I’m a businessman at heart.” The paper adds that a "senior leadership source" expects Renzi to retire.

Three Dems are competing for the chance to unseat Renzi, probably because of his Muck-prince status. TPMmuckraker's full coverage of Renzi is here.

Wow, the news on the 2008 Congressional races is coming fast and furious today. The latest: Muck-encrusted GOP Rep. Rick Renzi has got himself a new Dem challenger on his hands.

The Arizona Republic reports today that Dem State Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick resigned yesterday to take on Renzi. She faces at least two other Dems intent on running -- a surprising degree of interest in the seat this early in the cycle, probably the result of Renzi's muck-king status.

It's unknown whether Renzi will run again; a few months ago he was rumored to be resigning, though he strongly denied it. Check out our full coverage of Renzi over at TPMmuckraker.

The Democratic primary to replace Rick Renzi is getting dirty and very, very nasty -- but it doesn't have much to do with politics. Last month, frontrunner Ellen Simon's husband's ex-wife (stay with us here, it's worth it) accused Simon and her husband of ducking child support on Simon's primary opponent's blog and on a local politics site.

Now Simon, a former lawyer for the ACLU, is suing the ex-wife, Pamela Tanner, for libel. More of the nastiness after the jump.

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Who says voters can't be legally bought?

Over in Arizona, a novel way of juicing up people's interest in politics and getting them to vote has just landed on the November ballot. If you vote, you qualify to win a million bucks. It's that simple.

Nothing if not creative.

Last week, it seemed like civil rights lawyer Ellen Simon might be the Democrat’s best hope against Rep. Rick Renzi (R). Renzi’s most formidable opponent had been Navajo Indian Jack Jackson Jr. (D), but he dropped out of the race in March due to a lack of funds. Since then, Democrats have almost given up on the seat. Senatorial candidate Jim Pederson (D) even told The Hill that Renzi has “done a pretty good job.”

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