Sunday Briefs

Idaho: Dan Popkey says that an announcement from Larry Craig on retirement vs. a re-election bid will come in mid-September. Also in Popkey's article, GOP Rep. Mike Simpson apparently shuts the door on the possibility of a Senate bid should Craig retire. (HT: MountainGoat) I would bet on a retirement announcement, but Popkey's last paragraph alludes to the expectation of a re-election bid. Help encourage a Craig retirement by sending a campaign contribution to 2008 Democratic Senate candidate and former Congressman Larry LaRocco.

New Hampshire: This Seacoast Online article offers that, while undecided former Governor Jeanne Shaheen would likely be the strongest candidate to take out Sprintin' John Sununu given recent polls, Portsmouth Mayor Steve Marchand's breadth of endorsements and grassroots support also well positions him to challenge Sununu. The article also includes, "While many Democrats like to believe Sununu will be ousted by any candidate, [New Hampshire Institute of Politics senior adviser Jennifer] Donahue said Sununu still has time to reverse the stigma that he is a rubber stamp." I would respectfully disagree with that statement. At this point, Sununu has rubber-stamped Bush's policies on Iraq, health care, taxes, judicial nominees, energy, stem cells, and on and on. Any change would immediately be attributed to a disingenuous election cycle conversion. Sununu has dug his hole and it is effectively too late for Sununu to reverse the rubber stamp stigma - though he will try, I'm sure.

Texas: State Representative and Lieutenant Colonel Rick Noriega gave an insightful liveblog session at Firedoglake yesterday and surpassed an online fundraising milestone.

Oregon: Will the fact that at least one-quarter of the Oregon state House of Representative's Republican caucus is retiring next year hurt Gordon Smith's ability to generate momentum for his re-election campaign?

Another Sunday, another weekly review of the Senate races for MyDD later this afternoon.