A new Reuters poll shows Republican Carly Fiorina just four points behind Sen. Barbara Boxer (D) in California's Senate race. 

Boxer leads with 45 percent of the vote to Fiorina's 41 percent with 13 percent of respondents undecided. It's a poll of 600 registered California voters. 

The new numbers suggest there hasn't been much movement in the race during the past month. In early June, Rasmussen gave Boxer a five-point lead. And in late May, an L.A. Times poll had Boxer up six points. 

In Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, Fiorina told reporters she wanted to keep the focus on jobs and the economy in her race with Boxer. But she also backed the idea of repealing the recently enacted healthcare law.  

Vice President Joe Biden's visit Tuesday to survey oil spill cleanup efforts along Florida's panhandle led to more sparring between the candidates in Florida's Senate contest. 

Republican Marco Rubio again criticized the federal government's response to the spill. In a statement, Rubio said Floridians are frustrated by the government's "inaction" on the cleanup. 

"I hope the vice president will return to Washington with a message that those on the ground in Florida are frustrated by the inaction, indecision and inability of the federal government to help deliver more boom, skimmers and resources to the affected communities," said Rubio. "For the sake of Florida's recovery and future, the federal response must get up to speed." 

While Rubio didn't mention Gov. Charlie Crist (I) by name, his plea for the response to "get up to speed" is a veiled shot at Crist who told Fox News last week he thought the administration "has gotten up to speed." 

There was also no mention of Rubio's position on continued offshore drilling. In a TV appearance Monday, Crist reiterated his support for a ban on drilling off Florida's coast.

Rubio has said he would support continued deepwater drilling, as long as it can be done safely.

Illinois Senate candidate Mark Kirk (R) again apologized for misstatements about his military service record and said he welcomed "honest debate" about his past.

"I've made mistakes when characterizing certain aspects of my accomplishments and experiences. I apologize for my mistakes, and I pledge to correct any errors," Kirk said in his prepared remarks. "I am not perfect, and I was careless. I will do better and make sure this never happens again."

Kirk addressed a morning news conference in suburban Chicago after weeks of avoiding the press. 

It was only his second meeting with reporters since a scandal erupted at the end of May over discrepancies in accounts of his military service. Kirk had, in fact, literally been running from the press: He left a speech to the Metropolitan Planning Council in Chicago via the kitchen last week. Some observers dubbed it his "Peter Cottontail moment."

He had earlier apologized in a June 4 interview with the Chicago Sun-Times editorial board.

On Tuesday he said he was open to debating his Democratic opponent, Alexi Giannoulias, about his service record.

"I welcome an honest debate about my vision and service to Illinois, and I'm happy to compare my record in the military and in the Congress," he said. "Going forward, I will present my official record of service to compare to my opponent's. I will be mindful of my imperfection, remain humble, and the kind of public servant you deserve."

Kirk also promised to address major policy issues during a "series of speeches" over the summer.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce endorsed Blue Dog Democrat Rep. Walt Minnick (Idaho) Tuesday.

Minnick voted against the Disclose Act last week, the Democrats' campaign finance legislation that was strongly opposed by the Chamber. The powerful business trade group scored the vote, which meant it factored lawmakers' vote into its endorsement decision.

Minnick is a top GOP target this cycle. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) carried his district in the 2008 presidential election by 26 points.

But the first-term lawmaker has amassed a conservative voting record. He voted against the healthcare reform bill, the stimulus package and climate change bill.

He is the only Democrat to be endorsed by the national Tea Party. However, he will face Republican Raul Labrador in November. Labrador has local Tea Party backing.

The Chamber endorsed conservative Democratic Rep. Dan Boren (Okla.) before the House voted on the Disclose Act, in what some saw the move as a way of pressuring lawmakers who were undecided about the legislation.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R) looked to lend House Republicans a hand in their fundraising efforts Tuesday.

Pawlenty e-mailed supporters of the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) ahead of the committee's quarterly fundraising deadline to encourage donations to unseat Democrats in Congress.

“Winning a Republican House Majority this November will begin to rescue our country from the bailouts, handouts and takeovers of Barack Obama and his liberal extremists in Congress,” Pawlenty wrote in an e-mail for the NRCC.

A potential candidate for president in 2012, Pawlenty could garner more GOP support through his efforts. He can then cash in on that support as his presidential campaign develops over the next two years.

He established political action committees earlier this month in Iowa and New Hampshire, the first two states in the presidential nomination process.

Pawlenty is also scheduled to visit South Carolina this week, the state that traditionally hosts the third primary in the 2012 calendar.

He isn't the only Minnesotan to help the NRCC out in late June, either; Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) also solicited donations in a NRCC e-mail last week.

A run for president or vice president isn't in the cards, House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) made explicitly clear.

Boehner, the top Republican in the House, adamantly denied interest in a spot on the 2012 GOP ticket, saying he's too focused on maintaining his personal life.

"No!" Boehner exclaimed during an interview Monday with the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review when asked if he might be interested in running for president or vice president.

"I'm telling you, I'm not doing it! Look at me! Can you see this? It's on tape! You got it!" said Boehner, who has his eyes instead on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's (D-Calif.) job in this fall's midterm elections.

The GOP leader said he wanted to preserve what little bit of a normal life that he has.

"Listen, I don't have much of a life, but I have a little. And that little bit of life I have — I like to cut my own grass, wash and iron my own shirts, drink some red wine, smoke a few cigarettes from time to time, play golf," he said. "And frankly, I'm not willing to give up that little bit of life that I have for some job I don't need."

While Boehner might not have his eyes on a spot down Pennsylvania Avenue, another member of the House Republican leadership just might. House Republican Conference Chairman Mike Pence (Ind.) has pointedly refused to rule out a presidential bid in 2012, and said he would decide next year. In the meanwhile, Pence has made some trips to Iowa and New Hampshire to bolster his 2012 profile.

Vice President Joe Biden did a second fundraiser Monday, this time in his home state of Delaware for Democratic Senate candidate Chris Coons.

"It's good to be home, and it's good to be campaigning for a guy who I would be proud to call senator,” he said after being greeted by a standing ovation, “I tell my colleagues in Washington that you're going to be amazed when you find out the quality of the man we're about to elect to the United States Senate."

Coons, a New Castle County executive, is challenging Rep. Mike Castle (R-Del.) for Biden’s old seat. In the past, Biden has called Castle a friend.

About 150 people attended the event, paying $1,000 a plate for an elaborate dinner at the Chase Center in Wilmington. Delaware Gov. Jack Markell, union representatives, Sen. Tom Carper’s (D) wife, Martha, and state lawmakers were in attendance, according to a White House pool report.

Biden said they need someone like Coons to work through the "dark days” of the economy, a trait Coon showed by cutting spending, implementing a Safe Streets program, and achieving a triple-A bond rating as a county executive.

"We can't afford the same old, same old in Washington,” he said, “We need what Chris Coons stands for, what Chris Coons has demonstrated. Chris is a truly independent guy. He's a Democrat. He shares the same values we all share.”

He did not mention Castle. Castle is a popular figure in the state and polls have shown him in a double-digit lead in the Senate race. Coons decided to run after Biden's son, Beau Biden, declined to run for his father's seat.

Biden also spoke earlier Monday at a fundraiser for Rep. Baron Hill (D-Ind.).

The second quarter fundraising period ends Wednesday.

A new Rasmussen poll out Tuesday shows Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) holding onto a double-digit lead in his race for reelection against Rep. Charlie Melancon (D). 

Vitter leads 53 percent to 35 percent with 9 percent of respondents undecided. The automated survey polled 500 probable voters and has a margin of error of +/- 4.5 percentage points.

The poll was conducted after news of the arrest of one of Vitter's legislative aides. Brent Furer was arrested for allegedly assaulting his former girlfriend in 2008. The assault charges were eventually dropped, but Furer pleaded guilty to three misdemeanors. After news outlets reported his arrest last week, Furer resigned but questions lingered over Vitter's knowledge of the events.   

Another lingering issue in the race is the oil spill, with Vitter charging Melancon with backing the Obama administration's six-month deepwater drilling moratorium, which Melancon has repeatedly denied. 

A Rassmussen poll released Monday found overwhelming support for offshore drilling among Louisiana voters — 79 percent still favor it.

-This post was updated and corrected at 12:35 p.m.

Rep. John Shadegg's (R-Ariz.) pending retirement prompted a stampede of candidates vying to succeed him. In the hopes of standing out, former state Sen. Pamela Gorman (R) has put together an action-packed Web video.

Scenes vary from her blasting the desert with what appears to be a Tommy Gun, to her emptying the clip from a pistol, to her firing an M-16 assault riffle.

"Rated 100 percent by the NRA, conservative Pamela Gorman is always right on target," the announcer says.

Gorman has trailed in fundraising but she has the support of conservative blogger Erick Erickson.

Democratic strategists call it a sign the primary field is shifting to the right.

The field includes Paradise Valley Mayor Vernon Parker (R), who has fundraised with controversial Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, and attorney Ben Quayle (R), the son of the former vice president. The vote is in August.