Candidates Make Last-Minute Loans to Campaigns

A slew of Congressional candidates dipped into their own wallets over the past week to fund one final push in their campaigns.

Here’s Roll Call’s running tally, according to local reports and online filings with the Federal Election Commission:

Senate races:

• Last week, former Sen. George Allen (R-Va.) guaranteed a $500,000 loan for his campaign against former Gov. Tim Kaine (D). An Allen aide described it as a bridge loan to ensure available funds while the campaign processed credit card donations. Roll Call rates this race as a Tossup.
• Rep. Shelley Berkley (D-Nev.) made a last-minute, $250,000 loan to aid her bid against Sen. Dean Heller (R). Roll Call rates this as a Tossup.
• Former WWE CEO Linda McMahon (R) continued to fund much of her campaign against Rep. Christopher Murphy (D). As of Oct. 17, she had contributed $40 million of her own funds to her race. Roll Call rates this as Leans Democratic.

House races:

• Attorney Kathy Boockvar (D) contributed $15,000 to her campaign to unseat Rep. Mike Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.). Roll Call rates this race as Safe Republican.
• Rep. Mark Critz (D-Pa.) loaned his campaign $35,000 on Oct. 25. That’s in addition to the $64,400 Critz, a former House aide, still owes his campaign from his primary against fellow Rep. Jason Altmire (D). Critz faces attorney Keith Rothfus (R) in a race Roll Call rates as a Tossup.
• Former Rep. Bill Foster (D-Ill.) contributed $500,000 to his campaign to defeat Rep. Judy Biggert (R-Ill.) in the 11th district southwest of Chicago. A scientist and businessman, Foster has loaned his campaign big bucks in his previous bids. Roll Call rates this race as a Tossup.
• Rep. Nan Hayworth (R-N.Y.) wrote a check for $100,000 to her campaign on Oct. 29. She faces attorney Sean Patrick Maloney (D) in a race Roll Call rates as a Tossup. She also donated funds to her 2010 bid.
• State Rep. Randy Weber (R) gave his campaign $25,000 to defeat former Rep. Nick Lampson (D-Texas). Weber already loaned his campaign $226,500 earlier this cycle. Roll Call rates this race as Leans Republican.

DCCC’s Latest Round of TV Buys Includes First Spending for Louise Slaughter, Kathy Hochul

The independent expenditure arm of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee today made a new round of television ad buys in seven districts, including two New York seats where the DCCC has not previously purchased air time.

With three weeks to go before Election Day, the DCCC and the National Republican Congressional Committee have been shifting money away from races that appear less competitive and toward ones that now pop a little brighter on the committees’ radars.

According to a Democratic source with knowledge of the buys, the DCCC has placed new advertising dollars on broadcast TV in the following districts: Full story

Pennsylvania: GOP Survey Sees Tight Race in 12th

Republican Congressional candidate Keith Rothfus is leading in a new survey. (CQ Roll Call File Photo)

The race for Pennsylvania’s 12th district continues to be one of the most competitive in the country, according to new polling data from a GOP super PAC.

The new survey shows attorney Keith Rothfus (R) leading Rep. Mark Critz (D) by a mere couple of points, 42 percent to 40 percent. Sixteen percent reported they were undecided about the race in the poll from YG Action Fund. The margin of error was 4.9 points.

Partisan polls from both sides have shown a tight race here for months. It’s part of the reason the 12th district has earned a reputation for being one of the most competitive House races on the map this cycle. Roll Call rates this race as a Tossup.

Full story

Dueling Internal Polls in Iowa and Pennsylvania House Races

A Democratic poll showed Rep. Steve King in a competitive race in Iowa. (Chris Maddaloni/CQ Roll Call)

‘Tis the season for dueling internal polls.

In Iowa, former Iowa first lady Christie Vilsack (D) released a survey today showing her trailing Rep. Steve King (R) by 2 points in the first public poll of this race in several weeks.

A few hours later, the conservative group American Future Fund put out a poll showing King ahead by several points, 48 percent to 41 percent. Roll Call rates this race as Leans Republican. Full story

Pennsylvania: GOP Poll Shows Tie in 12th District Race

A new GOP poll shows a dead heat between Rep. Mark Critz (D) and attorney Keith Rothfus (R) in southwestern Pennsylvania.

Both candidates scored 38 percent in the survey paid for by the National Republican Congressional Committee and the GOP nominee. Twenty-four percent of respondents reported they were undecided.

Party committees, candidates and outside groups have barraged the airwaves in the district. But in the past few weeks, Democratic groups accounted for more airtime.

Republicans say Rothfus improved his position in the race despite the Democratic ad campaign. In July, Rothfus trailed Critz by 15 points in a similar survey from the NRCC and his campaign. This summer, a trio of Democratic surveys also showed Critz holding a smaller 6 to 10 point lead over Rothfus.

The new numbers underscore the competitiveness of the race. Roll Call rates this race as a Tossup.

The McLaughlin & Associates survey tested 400 likely general election voters in the 12th district from Sept. 19 to 20. The margin of error is 4.9 points.

The survey showed GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney leading President Barack Obama in the district, 53 percent to 39 percent, with 9 percent undecided.

View the full polling memo below: Full story

Republicans Launch New Round of Ads in House Races

The National Republican Congressional Committee and other GOP-aligned outside groups launched a new round of television advertising over the weekend in a bevy of House races.

With seven weeks to go until Election Day, the NRCC on Sunday released 10 new TV ads — six in districts the group is working to hold and four in districts the GOP hopes to pick up. Democrats must score a net gain of 25 seats in November to wrestle back control of the House majority. Full story

Pennsylvania: Mark Critz Airs First Spot Against Keith Rothfus

Rep. Mark Critz (D) hit the airwaves for the first time today in his heavily targeted race to fend off a challenge from attorney Keith Rothfus (R).

The spot focuses on Critz’ conservative credentials, highlighting his opposition to President Barack Obama’s energy policies.

Full story

Pennsylvania: Democratic Poll Shows Mark Critz With Single-Digit Lead

A new Democratic poll shows Rep. Mark Critz with a slim lead over his GOP opponent. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

A new Democratic poll showed Rep. Mark Critz (D) leading his GOP opponent, attorney Keith Rothfus, by a slim 6-point margin in the competitive southwestern Pennsylvania district.

Critz led Rothfus, 44 percent to 38 percent, in the survey conducted for House Majority PAC, a Democratic super PAC, and the SEIU.

Republicans plan to target the elusive 12th district after several unsuccessful attempts to pick it up in recent years. Last year, Keystone State GOP officials redrew the Congressional boundaries and made Critz’s district more conservative.

This survey marks the second Democratic poll showing Critz ahead since the April primary. The Critz campaign released its own poll from mid-June showing the Congressman with a 10-point lead.

Benenson Strategy Group conducted the House Majority PAC and SEIU poll of 400 likely general election voters from July 9 to 11. The survey had a margin of error of 4.9 points.

Roll Call rates this race as a Tossup.

Pennsylvania: Internal Critz Poll Shows 10-Point Lead

Rep. Mark Critz is one of the most vulnerable House Members this cycle. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Rep. Mark Critz (D-Pa.) released an internal poll today showing him with a 10-point advantage over his Republican opponent, attorney Keith Rothfus.

Crits led Rothfus 46 percent to 36 percent in the survey paid for by the Congressman’s campaign and released to reporters.

Full story

NRCC Loads First Round of Young Guns

Utah Congressional candidate Mia Love, who is in Washington, D.C., this week for meetings, was one of the candidates promoted to "Young Guns" status. (Douglas Graham/CQ Roll Call)

The National Republican Congressional Committee today announced its first round of Young Guns — candidates who have reached the highest tier of the committee’s recruitment and candidate support program.

The candidates are a diverse group that includes two woman, one of whom is African-American; a man of Portuguese descent; an openly gay man and a Jewish man.

“These candidates have met a series of rigorous goals that will put them in position to win on Election Day,” NRCC Chairman Pete Sessions (Texas) said in a statement. Full story

Pennsylvania: NRCC Goes Up Early Against Mark Critz

Barely a week after the Pennsylvania primary, the National Republican Congressional Committee kicked off the 12th district general election with an advertisement blasting Rep. Mark Critz (D).

This early spot shows House Republicans want this swing southwestern seat, and they want it badly.

Full story

Club for Growth Announces Three Congressional Endorsements

The Club for Growth, the powerful pro-free-market group, endorsed three candidates for Congress today.

The club’s PAC gave its nod to Keith Rothfus, the GOP nominee in Pennsylvania’s 12th district against Rep. Mark Critz (D); Thomas Massie, a tea-party-affiliated candidate in the crowded GOP primary in Kentucky’s open 4th district; and state Sen. Ron Gould, taking on Rep. Paul Gosar and Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu in a competitive GOP primary in Arizona’s 4th district. Full story

Pennsylvania: Critz Upsets Altmire in 12th District

Rep. Mark Critz spent $100,000 of his own money in his bid to win Pennsylvania's 12th district Democratic primary. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call)

Rep. Mark Critz came from behind to defeat his Democratic colleague, Rep. Jason Altmire, in Pennsylvania’s redrawn 12th district tonight.

Altmire called to concede to Critz, according to a Critz spokesman.

Democrats initially viewed the redrawn 12th district as favorable to Altmire because it included more than 60 percent of his current territory plus his hometown area. But in the low-turnout race, Critz’s support from organized labor proved pivotal, especially in his base of Johnstown. Full story

Pennsylvania: New Poll Shows Altmire-Critz Race Close

Reps. Jason Altmire (left) and Mark Critz prepare to shake hands before a debate at the WPXI studio in Pittsburgh. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call)

Rep. Jason Altmire led Rep. Mark Critz by a mere 4 points in a test of Tuesday’s Democratic primary matchup, according to a poll released today.

The Tribune-Review/WPXI-TV poll showed Altmire ahead of Critz 43 percent to 39 percent in the finals days of their increasingly competitive contest.

The two Democrats are facing off in southwestern Pennsylvania’s 12 district after GOP-led redistricting combined their current territory. Full story

Pennsylvania: Jason Altmire’s Finances Still Ahead of Mark Critz in Primary

(Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call)

BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Rep. Jason Altmire maintained his strong financial position over fellow Democratic Rep. Mark Critz in the weeks leading up to their April 24 primary, new fundraising reports show.

While Altmire continued to raise funds at a fast clip, the records show Critz dipped into his own pocket last month for $50,000 to fuel his campaign in the southwestern Pennsylvania 12th district. The two Democrats are locked in the competitive primary for the seat north of Pittsburgh, although Altmire has the geographical and financial edge. Full story