National GOP Pulls Out Of Colorado Senate Race
A national GOP source has confirmed to Election Central that the NRSC is pulling out of the Colorado Senate race, where GOP candidate Bob Schaffer has been trailing in the polls for this Republican-held seat. With this seat now effectively ceded to the Democrats, the Dems are one step closer to 60 Senate seats.

Dems Accuse Republican Of Committing Voter Fraud In New Ad
This new DCCC turns the current allegations from Republicans about ACORN voter fraud right back at them, by directly accusing the Republican candidate against Rep. NIck Lampson (D-TX) of having personally committed voter fraud:

"John McCain says voter fraud may be destroying the fabric of democracy," the announcer says, setting up a line of attack in a district that McCain should carry handily. "And in Houston, Pete Olson is running for Congress while a prosecutor in Virginia investigates him for voter fraud back East!"

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Here's another way that appearing on the morning shows, as John Edwards did this morning, can pay off.

A source familiar with the Edwards camp's fundraising numbers tells me that between 11 AM and noon today -- after Edwards appeared on CBS, CNN and The Today Show -- the campaign raised more money online than they have in any previous hour of the campaign.

The source says that more than one third of today's donors are first-timers, and adds that virtually all the contribs are under $100.

What's more, the source claims that the Edwards campaign has raised more money online during this quarter, which ends today, than in any previous quarter. All in all, these are perhaps more signs of Edwards momentum heading into the Iowa caucuses.

The campaign may make exact figures known a bit later this afternoon -- stay with us.

Late Update: I left out perhaps the most interesting thing. This morning the Obama campaign announced in their Powerpoint presentation that they have an average of 1.6 contributions per donor.

According to my source, the Edwards campaign will announce later today that they've surpassed that, with 1.8 contributions per donor.

Late Late Update: I should have clarified that these numbers don't change the fact that Edwards' fundraising disadvantage is very real -- but they are worth sharing as a possible indicator of Edwards' momentum.

That's what David Yepsin of the Des Moines Register concluded after speaking to GOP Senator Chuck Grassley and finding that he was unable to name anyone who was seriously thinking of taking on Senator Tom Harkin, his Democratic counterpart.

"Harkin’s already banked over $2 million," Yepsin writes. "Serious challengers get scared off by that, and by history. According to Harkin’s office, the Congressional Research Service has said the Iowa Democrat has defeated more sitting Republican members of Congress than any Democrat in the history of the Senate."

"So it’s little wonder top GOP office-holders aren’t interested in becoming the sixth."

Sounds pretty convincing to us.

Here's a quick roundup of political news relating to down-ticket races:

* Democrats plan to use the issue of stem-cell research against two Republican Senators from blue states who have voted against it: Norm Coleman and John Sununu, The Hill reports.

* Coleman, meanwhile, is busy raising money for an expected challenge from a strong Democratic contender, possibly from comedian Al Franken.

* Senator Tom Harkin told The Des Moines Register that he is taking the necessary steps to run for re-election in 2008, but stopped short of a full commitment. The 67-year old Harkin said, "until I tell you differently, the Democratic presidential nominee will have Harkin on the ballot in Iowa."

* The Hill reports that freshman Rep. Nancy Boyda, D-KS, might face former state Attorney General Phill Kline in 2008. Kline — who does not live in Boyda's district — was defeated for re-election in historically Republican Kansas by a wide margin last Fall.

* Nathan Daschle, son of former Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle, has been appointed as the new executive director of the Democratic Governors Association, Roll Call is reporting.

* Roll Call notes that a special election nexth month for the New York State Senate would — if Dems pick up the open GOP-held seat — leave Democrats just two seats away from a majority. If a majority is achieved in 2008 or 2010, their ability to totally control redistricting would have a drastic impact on the state's six remaining GOP House members.