A new Texas Research Institute poll finds Greg Abbott (R) leading Wendy Davis (D) in the race for Texas governor by 7 points, 49% to 42%.

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) “is making his fourth trip to Iowa in eight months, logging serious face-time before most other potential 2016 White House hopefuls in the state that kicks off presidential voting,” the AP reports.

“That’s more Iowa trips than any of the other Republicans mentioned as possible presidential contenders, except for fellow tea party-backed U.S. Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky. But Cruz’s brand of social conservatism may excite much of the party’s base more easily than Paul’s Libertarian ideals.”

Des Moines Register: “He’d never stepped foot in Iowa in his life until he came last summer to get acquainted with Iowa Christian conservative ministers at an event in Des Moines.”

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) “is building his re-election campaign around a concept that hasn’t been heard much recently: Vote for me–I’m powerful,” the Wall Street Journal reports.

“The 72-year-old Mr. McConnell is a veteran tactician skilled in pulling the levers of power. And despite historic levels of disdain among American voters for Washington and the deal-making that is the senator’s forte, he is running on his clout, in his campaign tactics and his pitch to voters.”

Scott Brown (R) on blasted Sen. Jeanne Shaheen’s (D-NH) challenge to limit outside spending in the New Hampshire Senate race as “self-serving and hypocritical.” The Hill reports.

Brown signed a similar pledge in his unsuccessful Massachusetts race against Elizabeth Warren (D) in 2012.

Dan Hopkins: “In recent years, gubernatorial elections have become increasingly nationalized, to the point where voting patterns in these races bear a striking resemblance to those in presidential races. If we look at all sitting governors, just 15 of the 50 lead states that were won by the other party in the last presidential election. That means just 30 percent of states split their votes. As recently as 1995, the figure was 44 percent, as Republicans were still competitive throughout the northeast.”

With a day to go before Illinois Republicans choose their gubernatorial nominee, a new We Ask America poll finds Bruce Rauner (R) in a commanding lead with 44%, followed by Kirk Dillard at 27%, Bill Brady at 19% and Dan Rutherford at 9%.