A new Quinnipiac poll in Connecticut finds Gov. Dannel Malloy (D) is locked in a repeat of the 2010 down-to-the-wire governor’s race as he barely leads challenger Tom Foley (R), 43% to 42%, with Joe Visconti (I) at 9%.
Poll Finds Snyder Ahead in Michigan
Although most polls show a close race, a new EPIC-MRA poll in Michigan finds Gov. Rick Snyder (R) comfortably ahead of challenger Mark Schauer (D) in the race for governor, 47% to 39%.
GOP Opens Big Generic Ballot Lead
A new AP-GfK poll finds likely voters favor a Republican controlled-Congress by a wide margin, 47% to 39%.
“That’s a shift in the GOP’s favor since an AP-GfK poll in late September, when the two parties ran about evenly among likely voters.”
Scott Delayed Execution for Fundraiser
Florida Gov. Rick Scott (R) admitted in a debate against challenger Charlie Crist (D) that he delayed an execution to accommodate the political fundraising schedule of the Attorney General.
Listen In on the Palin Family Brawl
TMZ has police audio from the recent Palin family brawl.
Listen carefully and you can hear Sarah Palin in the background telling daughter Bristol not to cuss during her statement.
Walker’s Ambitions on the Line
In his third election in four years, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) “is far more worried than he was in previous contests — less confident that he can fend off a challenge from Democrat Mary Burke, who is running a competitive race by targeting slow job growth during Walker’s tenure. Both his gubernatorial record and his potential 2016 presidential aspirations are on the line,” the Washington Post reports.
GOP Staffer Pleads Guilty to Embezzling $1.8 Million
“Former David Dewhurst (R) campaign manager Kenneth ‘Buddy’ Barfield is facing up to 28 years in prison and millions in fines and restitution payments after pleading guilty Tuesday to embezzling nearly $1.8 million from the outgoing lieutenant governor’s failed 2012 bid for U.S. Senate,” the Houston Chronicle reports.
Cotton Paid Nearly $300K to Group That May Not Exist
Arkansas U.S. Senate candidate Tom Cotton (R) disbursed over $131,000 to Right Solutions Partners in March for “fund-raising consulting” and an additional $161,000 to it in August for the same purpose, the New York Times reports.
“But here’s the catch: It’s not clear that such an entity actually exists. It has no presence on the Internet, it appears that no other campaign is paying it this year, and it has no office at the Washington address listed on the articles of organization filed with the city last year.”
Gary Hart Tapped as Envoy to Northern Ireland
The State Department has named former Sen. Gary Hart (D-CO) to be its newest envoy to Northern Ireland, the AP reports.
Secretary of State John Kerry said Hart “will help smooth negotiations in the new round of power-sharing talks among the government’s five-party coalition.”
Braley Trails in Iowa Battlegrounds
A senior House Democratic official told National Journal that internal polling in Iowa shows Joni Ernst (R) leading Bruce Braley (D) “in all three of the state’s battleground seats, making it challenging for downballot House candidates to put away winnable races–even in Iowa’s Democratic-leaning districts.”
Christie Says He’s Tired of Hearing About the Minimum Wage
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) said he doesn’t want anymore discussion about the minimum wage, TPM reports.
Said Christie: “I gotta tell you the truth, I’m tired of hearing about the minimum wage, I really am.”
He added: “I don’t think there’s a mother or father sitting around a kitchen table tonight in America who are saying, ‘You know honey, if my son or daughter could just make a higher minimum wage, my God, all our dreams would be realized,” he added. “Is that what parents aspire to for their children?”
‘Mr. President, Don’t Touch My Girlfriend’
President Obama proved he has a good sense of humor while voting early in Chicago.
Extra Bonus Quote of the Day
“I mean, realistically, my political career is probably over.”
— Former Rep. Anthony Weiner (D), quoted by Politico, reflecting on the sexting scandal that forced him to resign from Congress.
Gardner Leads in Colorado
A new Public Policy Polling survey in Colorado finds Cory Gardner (R) leading Sen. Mark Udall (D) in the U.S. Senate race, 46% to 43%.
In the race for governor, Gov. John Hickenlooper (D) barely edges challenger Bob Beauprez (R), 45% to 44%.
A new Monmouth poll has Gardner ahead 47% to 46%.
What Is Russia Up To Now?
Foreign Policy: “What first sounded like something straight out of a Tom Clancy novel is turning out to be Moscow’s first serious test of Western resolve since the invasion of Crimea earlier this year. While details are patchy and the situation is still unfolding, three separate credible eyewitness accounts and a photo showing a dark structure descending into the shallow waters of the Baltic Sea seem to confirm the presence of a foreign submarine or mini-sub some 30 miles from Stockholm. If so, this would be a major escalation of tensions in the Baltic Sea region.”
“Adding to the mystery are other reports of a North Sea-bound Russian container ship sailing under a Liberian flag hovering outside Swedish territorial waters. Defense analysts have speculated that this might be the submarine’s mother ship. In response to these chilling developments, the Swedish military has launched one of its biggest military operations in decades, involving some 200 men, a number of stealth ships, minesweepers, and helicopters to locate the suspected sub and its crew.”
Bonus Quote of the Day
“It’s not going to be an easy election, it’s a close election. Like I said, much closer than I can even understand why. I don’t want to say anything about your Wisconsin voters but, some of them might not be as sharp as a knife.”
— RNC co-chair Sharon Day, quoted by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, while campaigning in Wisconsin.
McConnell Pays for Enthusiam
The Kentucky Republican Party is offering volunteers all-expenses-paid trips to join Sen. Mitch McConnell’s (R-KY) campaign bus tour and “contribute to an enthusiastic atmosphere” at his events, The Hill reports.
Haley Headed for a Big Win in South Carolina
A new Charleston Post and Courier poll in South Carolina finds Gov. Nikki Haley (R) headed for a landslide victory over Vincent Shaheen (D), 51% to 31%, with Tom Ervin (I) at 11%.
