Wednesday Round-Up

The official numbers are in, and the DSCC once again outpaces the NRSC:

This was borne out again in July — as it has been in every other month this year. The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) reported raising $2.9 million last month to $2.2 million for the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), according to reports filed Monday by the two organizations that will oversee their parties’ Senate campaigns in 2008.

The DSCC raised a total of $34.1 million in the first seven months of this year, while the NRSC raised $18.1 million. The gap between the committees’ cash reserves was even greater proportionately: The Democratic committee had $20.6 million cash on hand as August began, and the Republican committee had just $6.5 million left in the bank.

Keep it comin'.

Conservative pundit Fred Barnes has a suggestion on how the GOP can improve its image:

Transforming a negative image hardened over a period of years is no easy task. Still, there's a lot Republicans can do. First, they should clean house of Republicans caught up in scandal. Forcing two or three House members and at least one senator to retire would involve more than friendly persuasion and no doubt provoke strong resistance. But the effort would attract national attention--favorable attention, for a change.

Not a bad idea, Fred. But who to start with? Scandal maven Ted Stevens? His Alaskan colleague and, apparently, real estate investor Lisa Murkowski? Pete Domenici for his involvement with the Attorney Purge scandal? Prostitute-lovin' David Vitter? Which Senator to begin with? (HT: Carpetbagger)

Minnesota: Instead of the overused symbols that fill political ads (waving flags, smiling kids, happy families), I wish all political ads were simply the candidate talking to the camera, which may be why I like this message from Al Franken so much:



It may also be why Blue Majority has added Al Franken to its Act Blue page. In other news, Minnesotans know how to do up a protest.

Oregon: Loaded Orygun points out that Gordon Smith's most recent approval rating of 46% is a 28-month low. Meanwhile, the Associated Press refers to Smith as "a reliable conservative vote" and "an early and vocal supporter of the Iraq war." And the DSCC makes it crystal clear that it will commit all necessary resources to deposing Gordon Smith in 2008.

Alaska: A Republican state legislator has called for Ted Stevens' resignation:

A Republican member of the Alaska House of Representatives is calling for U.S. Rep. Don Young and U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens to step down at the end of their current terms.

State Rep. Mike Kelly said it's a move needed to restore Alaskans' confidence in their government.

Kelly is described as a conservative and is taking heat from Republicans unhappy that he is badmouthing fellow partisans while taking heat from Democrats who claim that his motivation is doing what is in the Republican Party's best interests rather than Alaska's best interests. Either way, Kelly is correct here. The best way to remove the stench of corruption is to remove the individuals who are doing the stinking.

Colorado: Is it possible that "Backwards" Bob Schaffer doesn't consider himself an official Senate candidate yet? Schaffer's self-immolation continues.

Arizona: In a hypothetical 2010 Senate match-up, Democratic Governor Janet Napolitano beats Republican John McCain by double-digits, 47-36.