A new Public Policy Polling survey in New Hampshire finds Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D) leading possible challenger Scott Brown (R) by nine points, 47% to 38%.

Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon (D) wouldn’t rule running for president in 2016 if Hillary Clinton does not, stressing the importance of a “voice” for the “heartland” of the country, Politico reports.

Said Nixon: “There’s still a wide avenue to run as a moderate, centrist, somebody-who-thinks-about-working-people-every-day Democrat in the heartland.”

John DiStaso has confirmed that former Sen. Scott Brown (R-MA) “has been making calls this week to prominent New Hampshire Republicans.”

“The two top New Hampshire GOP legislative leaders… told us this afternoon they were called by Brown this week. Neither would disclose details their private conversation, but we understand from others who were called that they were essentially courtesy, due diligence types of calls from Brown. And the takeaway was that Brown is serious about a potential run, but there remains no definitive word on when he will make a final decision.”

First Read: “Both Democrats and Republicans have cleared the decks of anything that could divide their parties before the 2014 midterms. Republicans have essentially taken immigration off the table, as well as the threat of default or a government shutdown. Meanwhile, the White House has now removed chained CPI from its budget and slowed its push for fast-track authority. So both sides are deploying a do-no-harm strategy — all with less than nine months before Election Day 2014. It’s just the latest reminder that Washington is not going to get anything major done this year. It’s not even March 1, and both parties are waving the policy white flags.”

A new Public Policy Polling survey in Kansas finds Gov. Sam Brownback (R) trailing challenger Paul Davis (D) in his re-election race by two points, 42% to 40%.

Key finding: “Only 33% of voters in the state approve of the job Brownback is doing, compared to 51% who disapprove.”

California gubernatorial candidate Neel Kashkari (R) dropped a four-letter word on radio and was scolded by the producer, the Sacramento Bee reports.

Kashkari described himself as “the guy you send in when, pardon me, the shit is hitting the fan.”

Said producer Julie Kingsley: “We don’t cuss on the air… I wouldn’t expect it from a gubernatorial candidate. You should know better than that.”

Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) “predicted if voters headed to the polls for the 2016 elections tomorrow, Hillary Clinton would be most likely be elected president,” CNN reports.

Said McCain: “I would bet, my friend, as much as I hate to admit it, that right now – this is why we have campaigns – but right now, if the election were tomorrow, Hillary Clinton would most likely be the president of the United States.”

A new Gallup Poll finds Clinton with a 59% favorable rating.