A new Rasmussen survey in Kentucky finds Sen. Mitch McConnell (R) deadlocked with Alison Lundergran Grimes (D) in the U.S. Senate race, 42% to 42%.

A new Capitol Fax/We Ask America poll in Illinois finds Gov. Pat Quinn (D) trailing all four of his potential Republican challengers.

Bill Brady (R) leads Quinn 48% to 39%, Kirk Dillard (R) and Dan Rutherford (R) are ahead 46% to 37% and Bruce Rauner (R) leads 47% to 39%.

“No way it happens. I just don’t see it going anywhere. I think 2014 is a slam dunk to us otherwise and this would really piss off the base.”

— A House Republican aide, quoted by TPM, on the prospects for immigration refrorm.

Rep. Renee Ellmers (R-NC) apparently isn’t worried about a potential challenge from American Idol runner up Clay Aiken, the Raleigh News & Observer reports.

Said Ellmers: “Apparently his performing career isn’t going so well and he’s bored… As we know he doesn’t always fare all that well. He was runner up.”

Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley (D) told the Washington Post he is moving ahead with preparations for a possible presidential bid and can’t wait for Hillary Clinton to decide whether she is running.

Said O’Malley: “I have a great deal of respect for Hillary Clinton. But for my own part, I have a responsibility to prepare and to address the things that I feel a responsibility to address… To squander this important period of preparation because of horse-race concerns and handicapping concerns is just not a very productive use of energy… Right now, I’m going to keep doing what I’m doing — the thought work and the preparation work.”

“GOP governor candidate denies unknown allegations”

— Chicago Tribune, February 3, 2014

Dave Mann: “I’ll concede here at the beginning that I’ve never worked on a political campaign. Nor do I have any experience in media relations, publicity, political communication or whatever else flacks do. I don’t know the nuances of trying to defuse controversy with a speech. But I have covered many political campaigns in Texas the past decade, so I know what it looks like when a campaign handles the press well.”

“And the Wendy Davis operation is about the worst at media relations that I’ve ever seen. Her team’s mismanagement of the press is damaging her candidacy.”