After an ugly and personal campaign, the Republican primary for Senate between former Lt. Gov. Jane Norton and prosecutor Ken Buck is too close to call heading into Election Day.
Final numbersfrom Public Policy Polling out Monday have Norton leading Buck 45 percent to 43 percent, with 12 percent undecided.
Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) made two campaign stops for Norton in Colorado Sunday as the candidate made her closing pitch to voters. She used McCain as a proxy to suggest Buck isn't as committed to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Buck has worked to paint Norton as the pick of the GOP establishment and is backed by many Tea Party groups in the state.
Among the 35 percent of likely Republican primary voters who called themselves members of the Tea Party movement, Buck leads that group by seven points. Among the 47 percent of likely voters who don't consider themselves members of the Tea Party, Norton holds a seven point lead.
The poll surveyed 767 likely voters and has a margin of error of plus-or-minus 3.5 percentage points.
On the Democratic side, Sen. Michael Bennet leads former state House Speaker Andrew Romanoff 49 percent to 43 percent, with 9 percent undecided.
Bennet has had the support of the White House, while Romanoff won the backing of former President Clinton.
The Democratic primary poll surveyed 448 likely voters and has a margin of error of plus-or-minus 4.6 percentage points.
The wildcard in both of these races is the role early voting will play in the process. In most of the state's 64 counties the election is mail-in only, with the secretary of state's office estimating that well over half of voters have already cast a ballot ahead of Election Day.
New numbers from Quinnipiac show former World Wrestling Entertainment CEO Linda McMahon pulling away from former Rep. Rob Simmons (R) in Connecticut's Republican primary for Senate.
McMahon leads Simmons 50 percent to 28 percent, with businessman Peter Schiff polling at 15 percent.
A Q-poll from last week had showed Simmons making up some ground after restarting his Senate campaign a few weeks ago. Simmons has run two TV ads and made a handful of campaign appearances during the past three weeks.
He had suspended his campaign back in May after losing out on the party's endorsement at the Republican state convention, but never bowed out completely.
In a statement Monday, McMahon spokesman Ed Patru said the campaign is confident that primary voters will back McMahon Tuesday, calling her "the only fiscally conservative outsider with a record of job creation who can beat Dick Blumenthal."
Meanwhile, the Democratic primary for governor in Connecticut is in a dead heat ahead of primary day.
Businessman and one-time Joe Lieberman opponent Ned Lamont holds a 3-point lead over Stamford Mayor Dan Malloy — 45 percent to 42 percent.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the nation's largest business coalition, endorsed former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina (R) in the California Senate race.
The Chamber's national political director, Bill Miller, cited Fiorina's business acumen in his endorsement, saying her experience could help fix the country's economic woes.
"We’re endorsing Carly because she understands the challenges businesses are facing and will stand up for the people of California during these tough economic times," Miller said in a statement. "She is an invaluable leader who has a common-sense approach to job creation and getting America back on the road to recovery."
Fiorina is running to unseat Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), the chairwoman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.
As the head of the panel, Boxer has been a strong advocate of cap-and-trade climate change legislation. The Chamber caused a stir last year when it lost several high-profile companies due to its opposition to similar legislation passed in the House.
The Chamber of Commerce has said it would support legislation that has a lesser impact on businesses than several current proposals.
Boxer's seat is a top Republican target this cycle. Several recent polls show the senator leading Fiorina by single digits.
To tout the group's endorsement of Fiorina, Miller will travel with Fiorina on a two-day, six-city tour in California to highlight "her record of supporting the state’s businesses and workers."
Missouri Secretary of State Robin Carnahan (D) says shewould be happyto have President Obama back to the state to headline a campaign rally for her Senate campaign, and painted her Republican opponent as the Washington insider.
Carnahan is running against Rep. Roy Blunt (R) this fall for the seat left open by retiring Sen. Kit Bond (R-Mo.).
"The president's always welcome to come here," Carnahan said Saturday, according to Springfield's News-Leader. "I don't know what his plans are."
Last month, Obama hosted two fundraisers for Carnahan in Kansas City, events that Blunt's campaign quickly pounced on and turned into an attack ad.
Republicans are banking on the president's unpopularity in Missouri costing Carnahan in November. But Carnahan says it's her Republican opponent who should worry about his ties to Washington.
From the News-Leader:
During a stop at the Greene County Democratic Party headquarters, Carnahan said Republicans are wrong if they think equating the race for the Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Christopher Bond with the president's popularity will work.
The race with Blunt, who has represented the Seventh District in Congress for 14 years, actually revolves around who will best represent Missourians, the Missouri secretary of state said.
She described Blunt as beholden to special interests and out of touch with the needs of Missourians.
"I'm not trying to be hard on him," Carnahan said of Blunt. "You know before he went to Washington, he was a pretty decent guy."
Still, the recently enacted healthcare law and other Obama administration priorities are deeply unpopular in the state.
Last week, a ballot measure rejecting the provision in the healthcare law requiring individuals without insurance to purchase coverage passed overwhelmingly. A full 71 percent voted in favor of Proposition C, which some pundits called a warning sign for Carnahan.
The latest Rasmussen numbers on the race have Blunt leading 49 percent to 43 percent.
Democratic Senate candidate Elaine Marshall says a trip to her state from President Obama would be "a great thing." But the Democrat didn't exactly endorse a campaign visit from the commander-in-chief.
Writing on the Huffington Post, Marshall attempted to clarify remarks she made on the Bill Press Show Friday that were reported by The Hill and others.
The Democrat, who's facing Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.) in the fall, told Press that her campaign was discussing plans for a rally headlined by President Obama but that nothing was set.
Marshall also floated several other administration names as potential campaign surrogates, including First Lady Michelle Obama and Press Secretary Robert Gibbs.
"We want Robert Gibbs to come to North Carolina, he’s a North Carolina boy," she said.
Later Friday, Marshall said her comments were "taken a bit out of context and blown up to a bigger story."
Were Obama to make a trip to the state, Marshall said, "I would take the opportunity to thank him for endorsing legislation that would help small businesses and save 4,500 teacher jobs in North Carolina. I would also speak with him about ending the War in Afghanistan, and how Washington as a whole isn't responding to the needs of ordinary Americans."
She continued: "There is no doubt in my mind that anytime the President comes to our state it is a great thing. I would love to see President Obama come to North Carolina to discuss the issues and talk about what he is doing to try and fix the economy."
"Consider the record straightened," Marshall concluded.
But for Marshall the original question is still a tough one--would a campaign visit from Obama help?
While the president won North Carolina in 2008, his current approval rating in the state is underwater. A Rasmussen poll out Friday found 48 percent of likely voters "strongly disapprove" of the president's performance.
Polling shows Marshall within striking distance of Burr--the latest Rasmussen numbers have Burr up 49 percent to 40 percent.
But the problem for Marshall is with independent voters in the state. A recent survey from Public Policy Polling showed Burr with a 45 percent to 22 percent lead with independents.
Pollster Tom Jensen noted Friday that when Sen. Kay Hagan defeated Elizabeth Dole in 2008, she won independent voters in the state 48 percent to 44 percent.
J.D. Hayworth incorporated a quote about "lying" from John McCain's reading of his book, Worth The Fighting For: A Memoir, into a new TV ad hitting the Arizona senator on immigration.
"It could come down to lying or losing, I chose lying," McCain said in reference to the 2000 GOP presidential primary in South Carolina. During the race, McCain followed the advice of his campaign consultants and did not state a position against the Confederate flag. He said later he regretted not speaking out about its symbolic significance.
Hayworth's ad accuses McCain of "lying" about his support for the "amnesty bill."
It's the second contrast ad the Hayworth camp has released this cycle, but it may be too little too late. Early voting in Arizona started on July 29. The primary vote is Aug. 24.
The McCain campaign noted the ad had "already been labeled false by the respected non-partisan fact-checkers at FactCheck.org."
"With his latest TV ad, Congressman Hayworth shows all of Arizona how much he enjoys rolling around in the mud and muck of blatantly false character attacks," McCain spokesman Brian Rogers said in a statement. "Even Congressman Hayworth's fellow infomercial pitchmen would be disappointed with his utter disregard for the truth."
Federal investigators have requested documents from the office of West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin (D), according to the AP.
Manchin spokesman Melvin Smith would not comment Friday on which officials were contacted, or what was requested.
But Smith did say that investigators haven't said that the governor or any other state employee is under investigation.
Federal prosecutors declined comment Friday. So did Larry Puccio, Manchin's former longtime chief of staff who now chairs the state Democratic Party.
Manchin has announced his intention to run for Senate in 2010 and is considered the heavy favorite to hold late-Sen. Robert Byrd's (D-W.Va.) seat for Democrats. If it becomes clear that the investigation focuses on Manchin or his office, it could dramatically shake up the dynamics of the race.
North Carolina Senate candidate Elaine Marshall (D) isn't sure a campaign visit from President Obama will help her defeat Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.).
During an interview with radio host Bill Press Friday, Marshall said she was still discussing the possibility of an Obama rally with the White House.
"There are no plans, there is discussion going on," Marshall said. "We will see."
Supporters have asked her if the president is coming, she said.
"It's real interesting, they hasten to add, 'but we like Michelle, too. We'll be happy with her,'" Marshall said. "She would be a great person to have here."
Other Democrats are beginning to go public with their requests for campaign visits from the first lady. She's mostly hewed an apolitical public role since moving into 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, although that's expected to change as the campaign season gears up.
Marshall said she was considering asking other administration officials to make the trip south.
Press cited White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs's Tuesday briefing, during which he was asked where the president will be campaigning this fall. The president will go where he can be "helpful," Gibbs said. "We will not go places where candidates think it is unhelpful for us to go."
Press asked Marshall if she wanted Obama to visit.
"We want Robert Gibbs to come to North Carolina, he’s a North Carolina boy," she said.
Press reiterated his question.
"Haven't made that decision," Marshall said.
Obama won North Carolina's Electoral College votes during the 2008 presidential election.
Polls in North Carolina's Senate race continue to show Democrat Elaine Marshall has the potential to give Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.) a real run for his money this fall.
The latest Rasmussen numbers on the race give Burr a 9-point lead over Marshall — 49 percent to 40 percent. Three percent of respondents preferred another candidate and 8 percent are still undecided.
Burr has consistently led in public polls on the race, but his reelect number has hovered at or below 50 percent.
The poll surveyed 500 likely voters and has a margin of error of plus-or-minus 4.5 percentage points.
A Rasmussen survey from last month had Burr up double digits. Given the latest numbers, Rasmussen shifted its ranking of the race Friday, from "solid GOP" to "leans GOP."
Numbers from Public Policy Polling earlier this week showed Marshall within two points of Burr, who had 39 percent of the vote to Marshall's 37 percent.
Internal numbers released by the Marshall's campaign last month showed a similar picture with the Democrat leading Burr 37 percent to 35 percent.
If Republicans are trying to paint Marshall as too liberal for North Carolina's electorate, the latest Rasmussen numbers suggest they still have some work to do. Just 37 percent of likely voters described Marshall as liberal, while 30 percent pegged her as a moderate.
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