Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel “is said by well-connected Democrats to be considering the idea of running for president if Hillary Clinton opts out of the 2016 race,” Lloyd Grove reports.

“The 53-year-old Emanuel, who is busy raising money for his 2015 reelection campaign in the Windy City, has had discussions both over the phone and face to face in the past month with Democratic Party donors and fundraisers about a possible White House run, according to sources.”

But the Chicago Sun Times says Emanual was “was scrambling to throw cold water” on the report.

A new WBUR poll in Massachusetts shows Rep. Ed Markey (D) leading Rep. Stephen Lynch (D) among likely Democratic U.S. Senate primary voters, 38% to 31% with 4% prefering another candidate and 26% still undecided.

Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) will not seek re-election to a sixth term next year, the Newark Star Ledger reports.

Said Lautenberg: “While I may not be seeking re-election, there is plenty of work to do before the end of this term and I’m going to keep fighting as hard asever for the people of New Jersey in the U.S. Senate.”

“The decision by Lautenberg, who has been giving mixed signals for months, marks the end of a political era in New Jersey and one that is likely to set off a fierce primary battle as Democrats, including Newark Mayor Cory Booker, jockey for the rare open seat.”

A new Monmouth University/Asbury Park Press poll
in New Jersey finds Cory Booker (D) leading Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D) in a possible Democratic Senate primary, 40% to 25%.

The Crystal Ball has an early look at the 2014 U.S. Senate races.

“The seven most imperiled seats in the whole country are all currently held by Democrats. That includes the only seat in the country where the current incumbent party is actually an underdog: West Virginia, where Republicans are now favored to capture the seat of retiring Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D). Democrats also have very tenuous holds on two other seats: South Dakota, where even if he runs again Sen. Tim Johnson (D) will face a stiff challenge from ex-Gov. Mike Rounds (R); and Louisiana, where despite having a popular family name, Sen. Mary Landrieu (D) is likely to face a well-funded and, more importantly, sane challenger.”

“Democrats have a firmer grip on a quartet of other seats, but Republicans should strongly challenge them in all four. Sens. Mark Begich (D-AK) and Mark Pryor (D-AR) have strong personal brands, but they also might face formidable opponents in deeply Red states. Meanwhile, Sen. Kay Hagan (D-NC) and likely Democratic nominee Rep. Bruce Braley (D-IA) will be fighting Republicans in more favorable territory, but neither can be called favorites as the GOP figures out its primary fields.”