Here's today's run-down of the Congressional races:
National House Committees Shell Out Big Money, NRCC Finally In The Game
Both parties' national House committees shelled out big bucks in the newest federal filings. The DCCC spent nearly $4 million in yesterday's FEC filings, with the biggest expenditure going for $450,000 against Rep. Robin "Liberals Hate Real Americans" Hayes (R-NC). The NRCC, which has held on to its much smaller war chest until the home stretch of the campaign, spent $4.1 million, with the biggest payment going for over $450,000 to defend Rep. Dave Reichert (R-WA).
DCCC Going On The Air Against Bachmann
The DCCC will be going on the air against Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN), with this ad attacking her for blaming the financial crisis on too much regulation of Wall St. -- and pointing out how much money she's received from Wall St. interests:
The DCCC has committed to spending $1 million on this race, sensing an opening in the wake of Bachmann's statements on Hardball that the media should investigate Barack Obama and other members of Congress for possible anti-American views, followed by her truly awkward attempts at denying she said it.
Here's tonight's run-down of the Congressional races:
Bachmann: It Is "Absolutely A Lie" That I Questioned Obama's Patriotism
Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) told the Washington Times that people are lying about her McCarthyite rant on Hardball last week. "I did not question Barack Obama's patriotism, I did not say he was anti-American," Bachmann said. "And the other accusation is that I was calling for members of Congress to be investigated on their anti-American views. That's absolutely a lie."
House GOPer's Ad: Dem Opponent Favors Driver's License For 9/11 Hijacker
Check out this new TV ad from Rep. Tom Feeney (R-FL), who is facing a very tough re-election battle. The ad accuses Democratic challenger Suzanne Kosmas of favoring driver's licenses for illegal-alien terrorists -- using a picture of 9/11 hijacker Muhammad Atta:
Feeney's problems here stem from his having been implicated in the Jack Abramoff scandals, and he's gone so far as to tape an ad in which he abjectly apologized for it. The Democrats have released internal polling showing him losing in a landslide, but he clearly thinks that playing the terrorism card could help him recover in this GOP-leaning district.
Coleman: I Won't Say War Was A Mistake, For The Sake Of The Dead
At a debate last night in the Minnesota Senate race, Sen. Norm Coleman (R) reiterated his position that he will not say the Iraq War was as mistake. Coleman put it in very stark terms: "I will not tell the parents of any kid who has died in Iraq that their son died because of a mistake. I simply will not do that."
GOP Poll: Mahoney Way Down
We usually don't cover internal polls, but this one probably deserves some attention. The campaign of House candidate Tom Rooney (R-FL) has put out a poll showing Rooney defeating scandal-plagued Democratic incumbent Tim Mahoney by a whopping 55%-29%. We'll probably see an independent poll of this race soon, and don't be too surprised if it also shows Mahoney losing.
Here's today's run-down on the Congressional races: The Democrats are barreling ahead with more attacks against the GOP for the financial crisis, and more polling data is showing the economy dragging the Republicans down in key races.
House Dems Drop Almost $4.6 Million In One Day
The DCCC spent an enormous amount in yesterday's FEC filings, shelling out almost $4.6 million in 37 races. The Dems are spending $450,000 on offense for three seats in Ohio, $300,000 for two GOP seats in New Mexico, and half a million each in Arizona and Pennsylvania on both offense and defense -- a serious leveraging of their huge financial advantage over the House GOP.
Franken Ad Blasts Coleman For The Wall St. Crisis
Al Franken has this new ad against Sen. Norm Coleman (R-MN), tying Coleman to the financial crisis and the unpopular economic policies of George W. Bush:
"Who was looking out for us? Not Norm Coleman," the announcer says. "He's taken $2 million from Wall St. and financial interests -- more than any other Senate candidate in the country."
Here's today's rundown on the Congressional races: An avalanche of polls shows the Democrats running ahead or close behind in several seats that have been in GOP hands for years -- suggesting the possibility of major Dem gains.
GOP Rep's Ad: I'm Sorry I Went On An Abramoff Trip
This ad needs to be seen to be believed. Rep. Tom Feeney (R-FL), who is facing a spirited challenge from Democrat Suzanne Kosmas, has this new ad in which he speaks to the camera and abjectly apologizes for going on an Abramoff-sponsored trip five years ago:
"I embarrassed myself, embarrassed you, and for that I'm very sorry," Feeney says.
Polls Show Big House Races In Ohio This Year
A new set of SurveyUSA polls in Ohio show Dems poised to pick up two out of four contested GOP-held district. In the First District, incumbent Rep. Steve Chabot (R) is holding a small lead over challenger Steve Driehaus (D) 46%-44%. In the Second District, Rep. Jean Schmidt (R) is holding an 8-point lead over challenger Victoria Wulsin (D) 48%-40%. But in the open 15th and 16th Districts Mary Jo Kilroy (D) has a 47%-42% lead over Steve Stivers (R), and John Boccieri (D) has a 49%-41% lead over Kirk Schuring (R).
New McCain Ad Makes Appeal To Hispanic Voters
John McCain has a new ad set to air in Colorado, Nevada and New Mexico, in which the candidate makes a direct appeal for Hispanic voters who have largely been alienated by the Republican Party's anti-immigrant wing. Note that the ad uses footage of McCain at a June 2007 debate, with McCain's defense of immigrants' patriotism in front of none other than Tom Tancredo:
Obama Talking About Energy Today In Ohio
Barack Obama is visiting Dayton, Ohio, where he will be holding a "Secure Energy Future Town Hall." Ohio has proven to be a pivotal swing state delivering Republican victories in recent elections, but Obama has taken a narrow lead in the most recent polls -- and you can bet he'll be working very hard in the coming months to sustain that.
McCain Visiting Wisconsin, Where Obama Is Polling Ahead
John McCain is making a visit today to Wisconsin, an attempt to win over a state that has narrowly voted Democratic in the past two elections. Meanwhile, a new Rasmussen poll gives Barack Obama a 50%-39% lead here, up from a 45%-43% lead a month ago.
Report: Obama Team Vetting Dodd For VP -- And Not Vetting Hillary
Former Hillary Clinton spokesman Howard Wolfson said on Fox News last night that the Obama campaign is not vetting Hillary for vice president, to the best of his knowledge. Meanwhile, the Associated Press reports that Chris Dodd is being vetted.
McCain Hits Obama For Missing Vote That He Missed, Too
Good work on CNN's part for spotting this: John McCain has been criticizing Barack Obama's national security credentials for missing the September 2007 vote on the Kyl-Lieberman amendment. But McCain, who has missed the vast majority of Senate votes since he began running for president, also skipped out on that vote.
Dem Chances Go Up In Red Florida Seat
Rep. Tom Feeney, a former Florida House Speaker who worked to pass legislation in 2000 to award the state's electoral votes to George W. Bush just in case the recounts didn't work out, might be in danger of a seriously-funded challenge from Democrat Suzanne Kosmas. The Rothenberg and Cook Reports, plus CQ, have all changed their ratings on this race to "Leans Republican," up from safer ratings for the GOP.
Poll: GOP Sen. Susan Collins Way Ahead Of Dem Opponent
A new poll from Maine by local pollster Pan Atlantic SMS shows two-term Republican Senator Susan Collins having a huge lead over Democratic Congressman Tom Allen: Collins 56%, Allen 31%. Barack Obama is heavily favored to win Maine's electoral votes, but Collins appears to be safe and getting more than her fair share of ticket-splitters.
The DCCC has recruited a new candidate to take a run at scandal-ridden GOP Rep. Tom Feeney (R-FL), who is currently under federal investigation for his ties to convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff.
Suzanne Kosmas, a member of the Florida House from 1996 to 2004, has announced that she will run against Feeney. The DCCC touted an unreleased poll showing Kosmas faring well against Feeney in a hypothetical match-up.
"I took a look around and decided it was time for a change in Washington," Kosmas said.
Kosmas joins computer programmer Clint Curtis and Orlando business development specialist Gaurav Bhola in the Democratic primary.
This is a fun little story. An odd political flyer just went out in Florida's 24th Congressional district. It offers voters a comparison of two candidates: Rep. Tom Feeney, the incumbent, a "conservative Republican," and challenger Clint Curtis, a "progressive Democrat." But as it happens, Curtis is still facing a primary against Dem Andy Michaud. Because of that, and because Feeney's the incumbent, you'd naturally assume the mailing (which is here in our TPM Document Collection) was sent out by Curtis. The idea would be that primary voters would start seeing Curtis as the inevitable general election candidate -- one who's boldly preparing to launch an unapologetic progressive challenge to Feeney in his staunchly conservative district. Right?
This is a fun little story. An odd political flyer just went out in Florida's 24th Congressional district. It offers voters a comparison of two candidates: Rep. Tom Feeney, the incumbent, a "conservative Republican, and Clint Curtis, a "progressive Democrat." Since Curtis is facing a primary against Dem Andy Michaud, and since Feeney's the incumbent, you'd naturally assume the mailer -- which you can see here in our TPM Document Collection -- was sent out by Curtis, in hopes that voters would look past his primary to a general election matchup, right?
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I actually just resp to our local paper out same inq,
DCCC Recruits Challenger Against Feeney
