Former New York City Mayor Ed Koch weighed in on the contested primary in Manhattan’s 14th district Thursday, announcing he’s backing Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.).

“She’s the kind of responsive, independent and tenacious representative New Yorkers need,” Koch said in a letter released by Maloney’s camp. “She has my complete support.”

Maloney, a nine-term incumbent, is embroiled in a primary fight with attorney Reshma Saujani (D). The public backing of the well-known former mayor can’t hurt.

Moreover, it’s noteworthy because Koch is a Democrat but no die-hard partisan. He backed George W. Bush’s reelection in 2004 and is a strong supporter of current Mayor Michael Bloomberg, an independent.

Several Democrats in tough election fights are getting financial help from powerful defense contractors who are spending at record levels this cycle.

According to The Hill's Roxana Tiron, defense companies and their affiliated interests are fighting to preserve their contracts and bottom lines. "That, in many cases, means seeking support for current spending levels from members of Congress, who hold the power of the purse," Tiron reported.

Lockheed Martin's PAC, for instance, has contributed $2,352,950 during the 2010 election cycle, with several Democrats benefiting from its largesse. 

Rep. Ike Skelton (D-Mo.), the chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, received $10,000 from the PAC — the maximum contribution per cycle — as did Reps. Patrick Murphy (D-Pa.) and Kendrick Meek (D-Fla.), who are running for Senate.

Meanwhile, Boeing Co.'s PAC, which has spent $2,197,000 this cycle, donated the maximum to Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.), who's facing a tough reelection fight against Rep. John Boozman (R-Ark.).

The defense PACs are hedging their bets, also giving significantly to Republican members.

He’s not the challenger state and national Republicans were hoping for, but West Virginia businessman John Raese officially filed Thursday to run for Senate against Gov. Joe Manchin (D) in this fall’s special election.  

Raese challenged the late Sen. Robert Byrd (D) in 2006, losing by a wide margin. Byrd was reelected with 64 percent of the vote.

His announcement comes a day after Rep. Shelley Moore Capito (R) declined to run for the seat. Capito was being courted by the National Republican Senatorial Committee and was widely seen as the party’s best shot at defeating Manchin.  

A former chairman of the state Republican Party, the one thing Raese does have going for him is an ability to spend some of his own cash on a Senate bid. Raese heads Charleston-based Greer Industries and owns the state’s Dominion Post newspaper and West Virginia Radio Corp., according to the Charleston Gazette. 

The Gazette also reports that state Sen. Clark Barnes (R) is considering getting in the race. 

On Wednesday, Manchin got two Democratic primary challengers, though neither appear to pose a serious threat. 

Colorado Senate candidate Jane Norton (R) is hoping to derail her Republican rival's primary campaign by using a "caught on tape moment" in her new TV ad.

Norton’s 30-second spot features video of Weld County District Attorney Ken Buck pitching for votes because he doesn't "wear high heels."

"I have cowboy boots; they have real bulls--t on them," he said. "And that's Weld County bulls--t."

The video, which has been circulating online, has already generated significant media attention, although versions of it posted on YouTube drew a modest viewership.

That's about to change. The TV ad is airing statewide on broadcast and cable, according to a spokeswoman for Norton. OnMessage Media produced the spot.

Southern governor's races are becoming big draws for potential Republican presidential candidates.

Mitt Romney became the latest to weigh into Georgia's contest, endorsing former Secretary of State Karen Handel (R) on Wednesday. 

"A successful businesswoman and public servant, Karen Handel’s blend of executive, political, and business experience is just what Georgia needs at this critical time," Romney said in a statement issued by Handel's camp.

Romney's PAC has also sent her campaign a $1,000 contribution.

Romney played it safe compared to Sarah Palin and Newt Gingrich, who both endorsed before Tuesday's primary vote. Palin is also backing Handel, while Gingrich endorsed Nathan Deal (R), his former House colleague.

Palin can claim credit for helping Handel through a competitive seven-way primary race. But she'll be vying with Romney for the accolades of having pushed her over the finish line in the August runoff.

A spokesman for Handel said they've been in talks with Palin about doing an event but nothing's been finalized. Meanwhile, Palin's taken to Twitter to criticize Deal. "Karen Handel is about to 'Bring it on' in a run-off against career politician!" she wrote Wednesday.

A spokesman for Romney did not respond to a question about whether he'll travel to Georgia to campaign with Handel. When he endorsed Republican Nikki Haley in South Carolina, he donated to her campaign and appeared with her in person.

Former President Clinton is more popular than either of his successors, according to a new Gallup poll.

Democrats have reserved airtime for the final two weeks before the election in key congressional districts across the country.

Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee Chairman Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) said his committee would back billionaire Jeff Greene if he wins the Democratic primary, but may not fully contribute to his cause.

Some Democrats have floated a variety of scenarios in which the party could embrace Gov. Charlie Crist (I), who holds comfortable leads in polls for the general election, instead of Rep. Kendrick Meek (D-Fla.) or Greene, who both trail in the three-way general election race.

Menendez said the DSCC would support the nominee — but that money might be a different story. He reiterated that the party currently supports Meek, who addressed Senate Democrats at a caucus lunch on Tuesday.

“We always support whoever is our nominee at the end of the day,” he said. “I expect that to be Kendrick Meek. And, you know, until it’s different, we’re with Kendrick Meek and we’re doing everything we can to help him.”

Asked specifically if the DSCC would embrace Greene, Menendez said, “We always support our nominees. Now ‘support’ has all different connotations to it. I don’t spend money everywhere I have a nominee, because I don’t have that much money.”

Democratic strategists are breathing a sigh of relief over Rep. Walt Minnick’s (D-Idaho) reelection prospects.



Minnick’s Republican challenger, state Rep. Raul Labrador (R), was notably absent from the group of Republican candidates the National Republican Congressional Committee promoted in its Young Guns candidates training program Wednesday.

The NRCC added 33 GOP candidates to its “On the Radar” and “Contender” lists but didn’t include Labrador, who defeated committee favorite Vaughn Ward in the May primary.


Democrats were quick to take note of Labrador's absence.



“After the NRCC got burned by investing heavily in serial plagiarist Vaughn Ward while Congressman Minnick worked hard in his district and tallied up a cash advantage of 16 to one over Raul Labrador, it’s looking more and more like this district is falling off the NRCC’s radar,” Andrew Stone, spokesman for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, said in a statement.

Labrador also missed out an earlier round of Young Gun promotions in June.

He has reportedly had a tense relationship with the committee. He campaigned vigorously against Ward, railing against him as a Washington establishment candidate. And Labrador was stood up by NRCC officials when he came to Washington in December, according to the Idaho Statesman. After his primary win, he has yet to receive contributions from House Republicans, except for Rep. Mike Simpson (R-Idaho), who gave $2,000 on June 22.

Meanwhile, Minnick has a significant cash-on-hand advantage. He reported having more than $1.1 million in the bank at the end of June, while Labrador reported having some $69,000 cash on hand. 

A spokeswoman for the NRCC did not address Labrador’s status in the Young Guns program, but insisted Minnick would have a tough reelect.

“Walt Minnick needs every penny to defend his votes for higher taxes and for Nancy Pelosi as speaker,” Joanna Burgos, a spokeswoman for the NRCC, said in a statement. ”While Minnick courts Nancy Pelosi’s friends in liberal San Francisco, Raul Labrador is working to introduce himself to Idahoans and build a winning campaign to defeat Walt Minnick.”