Mike Johanns: Club for Growth Sank Don Stenberg

(Chris Maddaloni/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

As Republicans sought to interpret Deb Fischer’s upset victory in Tuesday’s Nebraska Senate primary and what it portends for the 2012 elections, Sen. Mike Johanns (R) told Roll Call that the third-party groups who spent heavily to boost Don Stenberg are responsible for his last-place finish.

Johanns, a former Nebraska governor, said the Club for Growth’s television ad campaign that targeted frontrunner Jon Bruning, the state attorney general, was “tone deaf” and left Nebraska GOP primary voters with an overwhelmingly negative impression of Stenberg, the state treasurer. Johanns referred to Stenberg as a “true blue conservative” who has a solid base of support in Nebraska and should have finished with at least around 35 percent of the vote. Bruning, who fought back against with negative attacks of his own, was also damaged in the fray.

“In a state like Nebraska, when the dirt starts flying, those throwing the dirt are going to get dirty too. It not only cost Bruning, it cost Stenberg significantly,” Johanns said this morning in a telephone interview. “It was an error in strategy.”

Full story

Crossroads GPS Kicks Off $25 Million Ad Buy Across 10 States

Crossroads GPS will launch a massive $25 million issue ad campaign on Thursday to run for the next four weeks, kicking off its largest buy this year in these 10 targeted states.

The conservative group spent $8 million on the initial buy to air the first spot, “Obama’s Promises,” through May 31, according to the group’s spokesman.

Full story

Nebraska: Deb Fischer Wins GOP Senate Nomination

(Douglas Graham/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Coming off a last-minute surge, state Sen. Deb Fischer won the GOP nomination for U.S. Senate tonight, according to the Associated Press.

Up until about two weeks ago, Fischer was largely written off as a candidate. For most of the cycle, state Attorney General Jon Bruning was the undisputed GOP frontrunner. He came in second place.

Bruning had a deep organization, but Fischer’s momentum proved too strong.

The favorite among anti-establishment conservative groups, state Treasurer Don Stenberg came in third place. In recent days, state and national Republicans began to describe the Stenberg effort as a miscalculation on the part of Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) and others.

Full story

Indiana: How Richard Mourdock Won the Club for Growth

(Shira Toeplitz/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

The first meeting between Indiana Treasurer Richard Mourdock and the Club for Growth was a disaster — so it wasn’t necessarily a given that the organization would end up investing $1.7 million and playing such a pivotal role in the conservative challenger’s GOP primary victory over six-term Sen. Dick Lugar.

When Mourdock first interviewed with the conservative activist group in their downtown Washington, D.C., office, he grew testy and even raised his voice at club officials when they peppered him with their standard questions about monetary policy. The interview went so poorly that Mourdock figured he’d never see a dime from the fundraising powerhouse.

“I told my campaign staff all the way along, don’t count on the Club for Growth,” Mourdock said in an interview. “We have to assume the won’t endorse us because that first meeting did go so badly.”

Full story

Virginia: Majority PAC Follows Crossroads GPS On the Air

The airwaves are heating up in what could be among the nation’s biggest 2012 battlegrounds.

A Democratic-aligned outside group announced today it is going on the air in the Senate race, targeting former Virginia Sen. George Allen. The ad comes one week after a GOP-aligned outside group took on Allen’s opponent, former Gov. Tim Kaine. Full story

California: House Majority PAC on TV for Julia Brownley

House Majority PAC, a super PAC supporting Democratic House candidates, hit the airwaves today in support of Assemblywoman Julia Brownley in California’s 26th district.

This is a top pickup opportunity for Democrats, who are looking to capitalize on Rep. Elton Gallegly’s (R) retirement and a more favorable district following redistricting. However, with multiple Democrats running in the all-party primary, there is a chance the party’s vote splinters, allowing state Sen. Tony Strickland (R) and Ventura County Supervisor Linda Parks (I), a former Republican, to advance to the general. 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

California: Super PAC Drops $500,000 on TV for Howard Berman

(Scott J. Ferrell/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

The San Fernando Valley cable systems are reaping the benefits of what’s expected to be one of the most expensive House races ever.

A super PAC reportedly supporting California Rep. Howard Berman has purchased a half-million dollars in cable TV time for the next month, according to the campaign of Berman’s opponent, fellow Democratic Rep. Brad Sherman. The ad buy runs from May 2 to June 4. Full story

Blue Dogs Endorse Three More Candidates

The fiscally conservative Democratic Blue Dog Coalition will add three more candidates to its roster of endorsed candidates today, Roll Call has learned.

The Blue Dogs, who lost two Pennsylvania Members in Democratic primaries Tuesday, endorsed former state Rep. Dave Crooks in Indiana’s 8th district; former state Rep. Pam Gulleson in North Dakota’s at-large district; and former state Rep. Gary McDowell in Michigan’s 1st district.

“In Dave, Pam, and Gary, the Blue Dogs have added three impressive candidates with a strong commitment to fiscal responsibility and representing the commonsense center of American politics,” Blue Dog PAC co-chairman Rep. Jim Matheson (D-Utah) said in a statement. “Each of them brings unique backgrounds and experiences to the Blue Dogs, and we look forward to working with them in the our efforts to streamline government and encourage business growth and job creation.”

The Blue Dog PAC has endorsed eight other candidates this cycle: former Reps. Nick Lampson (Texas) and Charlie Wilson (Ohio) and Leonard Bembry (Fla.), Clark Hall (Ark.), Brendan Mullen (Ind.), Hayden Rogers (N.C.), Ted Vick (S.C.) and Rob Wallace (Okla.).

Gabrielle Giffords, Democratic Women Look to Her Future

(Photo By Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

If there was any message to take from this year’s EMILY’s List dinner, it was that former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords’ (D-Ariz.) political career is not over.

Female Democratic candidates who back abortion rights, and those who support their campaigns, paid tribute to Giffords at the group’s annual dinner. Amid tears and a sisterly tone, speakers repeatedly alluded to Giffords’ political future.

Full story

Crossroads GPS Launching New Round of Senate Ads

Crossroads GPS is hitting the airwaves Wednesday with issue ads against Democratic candidates in five Senate battleground states.

The Republican-aligned nonprofit, which is affiliated with the American Crossroads super PAC, is dropping $1.2 million on the TV ad buy, which was first reported by the Hotline. The ads will air in Missouri, Montana, Nevada, North Dakota and Virginia through May 5. Full story

EMILY’s List Doles Out Five New Endorsements

EMILY's List will endorse ex-state Sen. Kyrsten Sinema and four other women in their races for Congress. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

EMILY’s List will announce today that it is endorsing five House candidates as part of the Democratic effort to regain control of the chamber this fall. The women are running in districts where the races are tossups or slightly favor Republicans.

The Democratic candidates getting the pro-abortion rights group’s stamp of approval today are:

• Attorney Shelley Adler, running in New Jersey’s 3rd district against Rep. Jon Runyan
• Attorney Kathy Boockvar, running in Pennsylvania’s 8th district against Rep. Mike Fitzpatrick
• State Assemblywoman Julia Brownley, running in California’s open 26th district
• Former Rep. Carol Shea-Porter, running in New Hampshire’s 1st district for the nomination to challenge Rep. Frank Guinta
• Former state Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, running in Arizona’s new 9th district

Shop Talk: House Majority PAC Adds Three to Staff

House Majority PAC, a Democratic-aligned super PAC, continues to expand its operation, announcing today the hiring of three Democratic operatives.

Gabby Adler and Jarrod Backous join the group as political desks, and Blake Williams will serve as a researcher. The new staffers join Executive Director Ali Lapp, Deputy Director Shannon Roche, researcher Matt Fuentes, finance assistant Kaitlyn Beck and Communications Director Andy Stone, who joined the group three weeks ago from the office of Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.). Full story

Shop Talk: Dan Conston Takes 2012 Focus; Nebraska Senate Hires

Dan Conston started today as communications director for a consortium of Republican-aligned groups.

Conston is moving over from the office of Chief Deputy Majority Whip Peter Roskam (R-Ill.) to take a leadership role at the issue advocacy firm American Action Network, the policy institute American Action Forum and the Congressional Leadership Fund super PAC, which supports House candidates.

“I’m excited to work with such talented people and to have the opportunity to influence the central political and policy fights of 2012 and beyond,” Conston said in an email. Full story

Arizona: Quayle Fires Back at Club for Growth

(Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Rep. Ben Quayle (R) came out swinging today against the Club for Growth.

In a scathing missive, he responded to club president Chris Chocola’s threat Wednesday to Republican House leaders over Quayle’s re-election race.

Chocola threatened to throw all of the group’s support behind Quayle’s primary opponent, fellow GOP Rep. David Schweikert, if leaders showed favoritism toward Quayle. Full story