Wall Street Journal: “A test comes on April 25, when Spencer Zwick, the national finance chairman for Mitt Romney’s presidential campaigns, is slated to introduce top donors in Boston to Mr. Paul. While some fundraisers say Mr. Paul’s resistance to the use of military force abroad disqualifies him from leading the GOP, others are intrigued by his efforts to grow the party by reaching out to young and minority audiences.”

“Support from donors who backed Mr. Romney, a defense hawk, would provide more evidence that Republicans are coming to favor a more restrained U.S. military role.”

Rep. Tom Petri (R-WI) will announce he is not seeking re-election this year, Roll Call reports.

“The district is potentially competitive. Mitt Romney carried it with 53 percent in 2012, while President Barack Obama won it narrowly with 49 percent four years earlier.”

Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-NY), “who is fighting what appears to be the toughest re-election battle of his life,” told the New York Observer that “qualifications” aren’t what matter in the race.

Said Rangel: “It’s clear that now the legislative body, instead of just legislation, has to work out a strategy to support the president of the United States. It’s also clear that one of the people that the president lauds for doing the work, whether it’s the economic recovery bill, or the affordable health bill, it’s me. And so, I don’t think the question in the elections is-I don’t really think- is who’s the best qualified. As a matter of fact that’s not the issue.”

He added: “I don’t think I have to share with you, or anybody else, as to what the issues are. All I’m saying is that it’s not qualifications.”

Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) will consider running for president in 2016 — “if she sees an opportunity to do so,” an aide told RealClearPolitics.

“Blackburn is scheduled to be one of the speakers at a New Hampshire Republican rally this weekend but was not previously known to be mulling a White House bid… Blackburn is a staunch social and fiscal conservative who was first elected to Congress in 2002, and a presidential run by her would be a long shot by any measure.”

The Wall Street Journal reports on a 10-minute clip from a radio show in late-2006 or early 2007 featuring Mississippi U.S. Senate candidate Chris McDaniel (R) in which he riffs on reparations for slavery, immigration and what it would be like to live in Mexico.

Listen to the clip and you’ll instantly know why Democrats would love for him to beat Sen. Thad Cochran (R) in the GOP primary.

[Read more…]

A new Public Policy Polling survey in New Hampshire finds Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D) leading Scott Brown (R) in the U.S. Senate race, 49% to 41%.

A new WMUR poll shows Shaheen leading 45% to 39%.

We did an excellent review of this race on the Political Wire podcast.

Pro tip: If you’re running for Congress and pledging a “war on Fox News” then it’s probably best not to appear on Fox News.

Mike Dickinson (D), who is running against Rep. Eric Cantor (R-VA), was absolutely shredded last night by Greta van Susteren.

[Read more…]

A new Florida Insider Poll of 120 of the state’s “most plugged in politicos” finds that 74% think Jeb Bush (R) will run for president in 2016 but just 32% think Sen. Marco Rubio (R) will do so.

In addition, a whopping 87% said Rubio would not run if Bush does.

A new American Crossroads poll in North Carolina finds Thom Tillis (R) leads the crowded Republican field for the right to face Sen. Kay Hagan (D) in November with 27%, followed by Greg Brannon (R) at 16% and Mark Harris (R) at 10%.

A handful of other candidates received only single-digit support.