Here's today's run-down on the Congressional races:

McConnell Ad Ties Lunsford To Schumer And New York
Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell, who is facing a tough challenge from Democratic businessman Bruce Lunsford, has this incredible ad out tying Lunsford to the New York liberalism of DSCC Chairman Chuck Schumer:

"And this guy wants to put a New Yawk Senadduh in Kentucky," the announcer says, in a hammed-up New York City accent. "Fuggedaboudit."

Gordon Smith: Palin Is A Great Governor For California
Some Republicans have taken to exaggerating Sarah Palin's qualifications, but this is just ridiculous. In a funny verbal slip-up in last night's Senate debate in Oregon, incumbent Republican Gordon Smith referred to Sarah Palin as an effective governor for California:

"I've met Sarah Palin once, she's a lovely person," Smith said. "She's a great governor of California, she's a strong executive."

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Despite the tanking domestic auto industry and GOP candidate Dick DeVos' $40 million in campaign spending, Dem Governor Jennifer Granholm has edged out of trouble in the home stretch of her reelection campaign, CQ Politics reports. CQ has just changed its rating of her race from "No Clear Favorite" to "Leans Democratic." "Granholm notes that the auto industry’s problems and the state’s overreliance on the carmakers greatly predate her election as governor in 2002," CQ says. "She also contends that national economic factors — including policies pursued by the Republican Bush administration — have contributed to the state’s problems." It appears to be working. CQ's full analysis here.

Mike Bouchard -- the GOP challenger to Dem Senator Debbie Stabenow -- has a new ad up which attacks...the wasteful spending in Washington. Of course, Bouchard's ad never mentions who's actually responsible for that wasteful spending -- i.e., the GOP majority. To watch the ad,

At the end of today's New York Times rundown on Elizabeth Dole's manifold failings as head of the National Republican Senatorial Committee we find this:

Her recruiting effort in the Michigan Republican Senate primary has put her at cross-purposes with Ken Mehlman, the Republican National Committee chairman. Mrs. Dole has actively pressed the candidacy of a white candidate, Michael Bouchard, who is in a primary against a black candidate, Keith Butler, to challenge Senator Debbie Stabenow.

“I think Ken might have choked a little bit on that one,” Mrs. Dole said with a soft laugh of her Michigan maneuverings.

It's pretty obvious that Mehlman and other senior GOPers are already maneuvering to insulate themselves from blame should Republicans get shellacked in the Senate races come November.