Tuesday Afternoon Quick Hits

Alabama: Commissioner Ron Sparks could be entering the Alabama Senate race soon:

In his bid for a second term last year, Sparks captured 59 percent of the vote, winning 62 of 67 counties in the process. The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee is leaning hard on him to take on Sessions, and Alabama insiders believe Sparks could jump in the race as early as next month.

That 59% victory in 2006 was up from 51% in 2002, thanks in part to resonating ads like these. Sparksmania!

Nebraska: CQPolitics notes Hal Daub's electoral loserdom:

Daub, 66, was elected to the House in 1980 from the Omaha-centered 2nd District and was re-elected three times. He is eyeing the same Senate seat he sought in 1990, when he challenged Democratic Sen. Jim Exon and lost by 59 percent to 41 percent. Exon retired after the 1996 election and was succeeded by Hagel.

That 1990 race was Daub’s second bid for the Senate. In 1988, he left his House seat open to stage a primary challenge to Republican Sen. David Karnes, who had been appointed to the seat in 1987 after the death of Democratic Sen. Ed Zorinsky. Karnes defeated Daub, 55 percent to 45 percent, but lost the general election to Democrat Bob Kerrey.

Daub returned to office by winning a special runoff election for Omaha mayor in December 1994 and won a full four-year term in 1997. He was defeated for re-election in 2001, though, by Democrat Mike Fahey — who continues to serve as Omaha mayor and who happens to be the person who national Democratic strategists want to run for the Senate next year.

Illinois: The Hill notes that, while unknown candidate Steve Sauerberg is entering the race to challenge Senator Richard Durbin, wealthy businessman Steve Greenberg has decided against a Senate bid. Not that I was worried about Durbin's seat being at risk, but Greenberg might have forced Durbin to spend more money. A presumably less well-funded challenger will allow Durbin to offer more resources to the DSCC and fellow Democrats. (HT: Political Insider)