Tuesday Briefs

Early estimates put the DSCC's July take at $2.9 million versus $2.2 million for the NRSC. Official word should be coming soon.

Minnesota: Don't forget: Today is "Norm Coleman Loves George W. Bush" Day.

Kentucky: The Washington Times highlights Mitch McConnell's eroding base of support while Larry Forgy is sounding more and more like a likely primary challenger to McConnell. And it doesn't help McConnell that he is getting slammed by powerful ads like these.

Oregon: Oregon House Speaker and 2008 Senate candidate Jeff Merkley boldly calls for the impeachment of Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, apparently becoming the first major Senate candidate or Senator to do so. Also, the first poll including Gordon Smith and Merkley has been released, and there is, as expected, much in the way of undecided/unknown. Two-term Senator Smith clocks in at a weak 38%, while still ostensibly-unknown statewide Merkley starts off at 19%. The poll did not measure current name ID rates, but I'd imagine the gap starts off as sizable. Meanwhile, the OR-Dems discuss Smith's latest lies and contradictions.

Colorado: "Backwards" Bob Schaffer could be self-immolating before our eyes. First, Schaffer says that his questionable contributions can't be a conflict-of-interest because the alleged favorable vote occurred on the Board of Education, while the contribution was to his Senate campaign. Ummm... yeah. Completely unrelated. The more Schaffer tries to defend himself, the guiltier he comes off. And then, Schaffer didn't even show up to the Board of Education's "Code of Ethics Discussion." Wow. Quite a hole Schaffer is digging.

Nebraska: An omen of developments to come? Republican state Attorney General Jon Bruning is turning his attention away from Chuck Hagel and toward Republican U.S. Secretary of Agriculture and former Nebraska Governor Mike Johanns. Should we be expecting a Hagel Senate retirement and Johanns Senate race entry soon?

Texas: It looks like John Cornyn broke an explicit campaign promise when he voted against SCHIP - in other words, voting against expanding and increasing health care coverage for sick children. What can you do? Fill Rick Noriega's boots!

Tennessee: Following businessman Michael Ray McWherter and former TN-Dems Chair Bob Tuke, Nashville attorney Mike Doherty has indicated that he is considering a 2008 Senate challenge to Lamar Alexander.

North Carolina: Former Senator John Edwards' former law partner, David Kirby, has said that he is not considering a challenge to Elizabeth Dole, citing his commitment to Edwards' Presidential campaign.

Louisiana: Harumph. A poll taken about two weeks after prostitute-aficionado David Vitter held his press conference shows that he still maintains solid job approval ratings. No word in the article if there were related questions polled like "Does David Vitter's scandal impact my view of him or my likelihood to vote for him in the future?"

Georgia: Keep an eye out. There could be an open seat race here in 2010.