Sunday Round-Up

First and foremost, thank you for helping to meet every goal set on the Expand the Map! ActBlue page. I know I've been begging a lot, but as of now, State Senator Andrew Rice of Oklahoma has over 30 contributors and over $2,000, former Congressman Larry LaRocco has over 20 contributors and over $500, and State Representative & Lieutenant Colonel Rick Noriega has 15 contributors and over $500. Thank you all so much!

New Mexico: Congressman Tom Udall did not reveal any Senate plans this weekend, but an answer is expected in about two weeks. Suffice it to say, there is a great deal of enthusiasm for a Tom Udall for Senate campaign and he'd start off with numerous advantages and frontrunner status. In the meantime, the Draft Udall effort continues to evolve and strengthen.

Kentucky: A new Rasmussen Reports poll sees Mitch McConnell unable to break 50% against possible 2008 Senate opponents. The poll has McConnell edging state Attorney General Greg Stumbo 48-41 and state Auditor Crit Luallen 49-39. These numbers are fairly similar to the Lexington Herald-Leader's recent polling that saw McConnell edging Stumbo 46-37 and Luallen 45-40. It's just another indication that McConnell is in a heap of trouble in 2008. (BTW: Kentucky's state election is Tuesday. It should provide the KY-Dems with even more momentum.)

South Carolina: Palmetto State Republicans are none too keen on Lindsey Graham:

A bare majority of likely Republican voters - 50.8 percent - approve of Graham's job performance, a new poll by Winthrop University and ETV found. ...

More than 45 percent of likely Republican voters surveyed said they would consider voting for someone else in the 2008 GOP primary. Only 41 percent of GOP voters said they would be more likely to vote for Graham again.

While Graham has a healthy campaign war chest, a tough primary challenge (if one were to actually materialize) could deplete his financial resources. Now, if we only had a Democrat in the race.

Iowa: Senator Tom Harkin raised another million bucks in Q3, bringing his bankroll to $3 million. If the IA-GOP wants to field any significant challenger to Harkin (read: if GOP Reps. Tom Latham or Steve King are going to jump in), they better do something soon, or Iowa will be completely locked up Safe Dem.

Maine: A ballot question referendum in Maine's upcoming off-year election pertains to (state) legislative term limits. (HT: Collins Watch) It presents yet another opportunity to discuss Susan Collins' own broken promise to the voters of Maine regarding her self-imposed term limits pledge lie, should anyone in Maine feel like writing a letter to the editor of their local paper.

California: Republican Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger claims to have "no interest" in a 2010 challenge to Senator Barbara Boxer.