New Jersey: David Axelrod to Campaign for Steven Rothman

Rep. Steven Rothman (above) picked up support from senior Obama campaign adviser David Axelrod. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)

Updated: 4:57 p.m. | Senior Obama campaign adviser David Axelrod is set to campaign on behalf of Rep. Steven Rothman on Wednesday in his tough 9th district primary against fellow Democratic Rep. Bill Pascrell. The Bergen County Record first reported the news.

President Bill Clinton endorsed Pascrell earlier this month, and Axelrod’s move to campaign for Rothman sets up a rematch of sorts of the 2008 Democratic presidential primary. In that contest, Rothman was an early Obama backer; Pascrell endorsed then-Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton.

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NRCC Pulls in Big Money, Outraises DCCC in April

The National Republican Congressional Committee, led by Rep. Pete Sessions, outraised its Democratic counterpart in April. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

The National Republican Congressional Committee outraised the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee by about half a million dollars in April.

The NRCC raised an impressive $6.9 million last month and ended April with $31.3 million in cash on hand.

That compares with the $6.48 million raised by the DCCC; it ended the month with $25 million in the bank.

The NRCC is almost $20 million ahead of where it was in cash on hand at this time last cycle.

DCCC Posts Big April Fundraising Haul

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has turned in top fundraising this cycle under its chairman, Rep. Steve Israel. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee raised $6.48 million in April and ended last month with $25 million in cash on hand.

The DCCC has posted big fundraising figures in recent months, often outraising its counterpart, the National Republican Congressional Committee.

A DCCC spokesman said this was their “best April in history.”

By comparison, the DCCC raised just less than $3 million in April of 2006, a year in which they took control of the House, according to Federal Election Commission filings.

The NRCC has not yet released its monthly fundraising numbers, which are due to be filed at the FEC on or before Sunday.

Democrats have an uphill climb to net the 25 seats needed to take back the chamber, which they lost in 2010. The first salvo in that effort will come next month in the Arizona special election to replace former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D). Both parties and their allies are spending heavily on the swing seat.

Arizona: New Kelly Ad Hits Barber on Cap-and-Trade

Updated: 10:28 a.m. | Republican Jesse Kelly’s latest TV ad in the hotly-contested Arizona special election to replace former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D) hits on a familiar issue from the 2010 elections: Cap-and-trade legislation. The ad criticizes Ron Barber, the Democratic nominee and a former Giffords aide, for supporting the 2009 bill aimed at reducing carbon emissions.

Colorado: Mike Coffman Retracts Obama is ‘Not An American’ Comment

(Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Rep. Mike Coffman (R-Colo.) recently questioned President Barack Obama’s birthplace and patriotism, then quickly apologized for the comments. The Denver NBC affiliate 9NEWS first broke the story and posted the audio online late Wednesday night.

“I don’t know whether Barack Obama was born in the United States of America. I don’t know that,” Coffman said on Saturday at a fundraiser at the Elbert County Fairgrounds.”But I do know this, that in his heart, he’s not an American. He’s just not an American.”

The comments come as Coffman is in the fight of his career against state Rep. Joe Miklosi (D) in the redrawn 6th district. Full story

North Dakota: Club for Growth Backs Kevin Cramer for Congress

National conservatives have officially set their target on a rare contested primary for North Dakota’s open House seat.

The Club for Growth endorsed Public Service Commissioner Kevin Cramer today, just one day after FreedomWorks announced its support for his bid.

The North Dakota Republican Party and its leaders support Public Service Commissioner Brian Kalk, who received the party’s official endorsement at the state convention earlier this year. Cramer opted to run outside the convention system — an infrequent move in North Dakota — and challenge Kalk in the June 12 primary.

The state GOP’s support gives Kalk financial and political resources, and now national groups could boost Cramer with their own deep pockets and fundraising network.

“Kevin Cramer will fight to cut spending, repeal ObamaCare and restore fiscal sanity in Washington,” club President Chris Chocola said in a statement.

Poll: David Cicilline Has Tough Primary in Rhode Island

Rep. David Cicilline has a difficult re-election race. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Rep. David Cicilline, one of the most endangered House Democrats this cycle, might not even make it out of the September primary, according to a poll conducted for Rhode Island television affiliate WPRI.

The Congressman got 40 percent versus 36 percent for his primary challenger, businessman Anthony Gemma. Twenty percent of those surveyed were undecided.

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California: Maldonado Pre-Primary Ad Costs $200K

In a race to watch, former Lt. Gov. Abel Maldonado (R) launched his first TV ad in the 24th district.

Maldonado is one of two Republicans challenging Rep. Lois Capps (D), whose once-safe district was redrawn as one of the state’s most competitive in redistricting.

As the only Democrat, Capps is assured of advancing beyond the June 5 all-party primary, while Maldonado and actor Chris Mitchum (R) battle for the second spot.

“Together, my family turned a few acres into a thriving, family-run small business, creating jobs and opportunities,” Maldonado says in the ad. “But what about future generations? Washington is threatening the American dream. Bank bailouts, costly regulations — they don’t make things work, they make things worse.”

The Maldonado campaign spent $200,000 to air the ad for three weeks, according to a campaign spokesman. Capps launched two television ads last week that are running on broadcast and cable through the primary and focus on her work on behalf of the district since being elected in 1998.

Washington: Dennis Kucinich Won’t Run Here — or Anywhere Else

(Chris Maddaloni/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) will not seek a House seat in Washington state this year after losing a primary to a fellow Democratic Member in March.

In an email to his supporters, Kucinich thanked the “tens of thousands of concerned Citizens for Kucinich who in the past few months have written, emailed and called to discuss my running for Congress in Washington State.”

“After careful consideration and discussions with Elizabeth and my closest friends, I have decided that, at this time, I can best serve from outside the Congress,” he continued.

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Hawaii: VoteVets on Air for Tulsi Gabbard

A liberal veterans group is going on the air in Hawaii to support Honolulu City Councilwoman Tulsi Gabbard in the open 2nd district.

VoteVets.org, the largest progressive organization of veterans in the country, spent $75,000 to air the ad for 10 days on broadcast television and plans to spend more as the Aug. 11 primary approaches. The ad features several Iraq War veterans describing Gabbard’s biography, which includes military service and public office. Full story

FreedomWorks Backs Three Upstarts for Open House Seats

FreedomWorks announced its support for three upstart Republican House candidates today, pitting the conservative grass-roots group against local elected officials in each state.

The group endorsed Public Service Commissioner Kevin Cramer in North Dakota’s at-large seat; Lewis County Judge Executive Thomas Massie in Kentucky’s 4th district; and former state Sen. Sam Aanestad in California’s 1st district.

All three candidates are running in open-seat races. FreedomWorks’ support is notable because it’s backing the underdogs in each race and, in one case, going against the state party’s endorsement.

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New Mexico: Bill Clinton Robocalls For Marty Chávez

President Bill Clinton is making his presence felt in yet another Democratic House primary.

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Nevada: Joe Heck, John Oceguera Reserve $1.4 Million in TV Time

Freshman Rep. Joe Heck (R) and Assembly Speaker John Oceguera (D) have reserved more than $1.4 million combined in fall television airtime in Las Vegas, according to a chart provided by a Democratic source.

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Michigan: Filing Deadline Arrives With No Surprises

Rep. Tim Walberg (R) will not have a top challenger for his re-election race this November, leaving Democrats with a major recruitment hole in the Michigan map.

Instead, Democrats will focus their efforts on a rerun race between freshman Rep. Dan Benishek (R) and former state Rep. Gary McDowell (D) in the state’s Upper Peninsula.

The Wolverine State’s Congressional races were set today, when the candidate filing period closed at 4 p.m. There were no major surprises among the dozens of petitions, including Walberg’s race. A couple of weeks ago, former GOP Rep. Joe Schwarz declined to challenge Walberg as a Democrat.

Michigan shed a House seat due to population loss, and Republicans led a redraw of the state’s Congressional boundaries last year. As a result, a few Democrats filed to run for re-election in new territory around Detroit.

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Minnesota: Delegation to Headline Rick Nolan Fundraiser

A pack of noteworthy Democratic Members were scheduled Wednesday to host a fundraiser for former Rep. Rick Nolan, who is running for the Democratic nomination in Minnesota’s 8th district. The invitation to the Washington, D.C., event encourages attendees to come “celebrate the Democratic Farmer Labor Endorsement of Rick Nolan.”

The fundraiser’s hosts include Minnesota’s entire Democratic Congressional delegation and non-Gopher State Members that Nolan served with during his previous stint on Capitol Hill. Nolan has a competitive primary and is trying to send a message that Minnesota’s Democratic establishment and others are coalescing around his candidacy.

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