New York: Super PAC Takes Aim at Charlie Rangel

(Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

The Campaign for Primary Accountability, a nonpartisan super PAC that has successfully targeted incumbents this cycle by supporting primary challengers, will next turn its substantial financial resources against longtime Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-N.Y.).

The group announced it “will make independent expenditures opposing Rep. Rangel and supporting state Sen. Adriano Espaillat.” Super PAC spokesman Curtis Ellis wouldn’t specify how much the CPA would spend against Rangel, but he noted that in its previous efforts, the group usually spends six-figure sums in its races. Full story

Kentucky: Alecia Webb-Edgington Gets NRA Endorsement

State Rep. Alecia Webb-Edgington, in a competitive Republican primary to replace retiring Rep. Geoff Davis (R), picked up the endorsement of the powerful National Rifle Association on Monday. It could give her a boost in a close race as the May 22 primary looms.

“As a gun-owner, concealed carry permit holder, and NRA Member, I am proud to have the support of the nation’s premier defender of Second Amendment rights,” she said in a statement. Webb-Edgington faces Boone County Judge-Executive Gary Moore and tea-party-affiliated Lewis County Judge-Executive Thomas Massie, among others, in the primary.

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

Indiana: New Independent Poll Gives Richard Mourdock a 10-Point Lead

(Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)

Sen. Dick Lugar (R-Ind.) trailed his primary opponent by 10 points in a new independent poll released today.

In what will likely be the final independent survey released before Tuesday’s GOP primary, state Treasurer Richard Mourdock (R) led Lugar, 48 percent to 38 percent, in the Howey/DePauw University Indiana Battleground Poll.

The numbers showed Lugar’s dire straits in his quest for a seventh term. A similar poll from late March gave Lugar a 7-point lead over Mourdock, 42 percent to 35 percent.

The poll surveyed 700 likely Indiana GOP primary voters on April 30 and May 1. The margin of error was 3.7 points. Here’s a copy of the full polling memo below:

Rep. Joe Donnelly is the likely Democratic nominee. He’ll face the winner of the GOP primary.

Nebraska: Rick Santorum Backs Jon Bruning for Senate

(Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Former Sen. Rick Santorum (R-Pa.) threw his support behind state Attorney General Jon Bruning’s (R) primary bid for the open Nebraska Senate seat today.

The endorsement marks the former presidential candidate’s first foray into Congressional politics since dropping out of the national race in April, and it puts him at odds with some conservatives and tea party champions in Washington, D.C. — including Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) — who have backed state Treasurer Don Stenberg. Full story

New Jersey: Steven Rothman Notes Past Loyalty to President Bill Clinton

(Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)

WOOD-RIDGE, N.J. —Rep. Steven Rothman isn’t losing sleep over President Bill Clinton and the possibility that he might endorse Rep. Bill Pascrell in the contentious Democratic primary.

It has been widely noted that the 2008 Democratic presidential primary has come back to haunt several House candidates who backed now-President Barack Obama over then-Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, as did Rothman. The former president, in some cases to devastating effect, has waded into redistricting-generated Member-vs.-Member Democratic primaries on behalf of the individual who backed his wife for president in 2008.

But Rothman, now embroiled in a bitter primary with 2008 Clinton-backer Pascrell, points to a loyalty to the former president that goes back a decade before 2008, when his political survival was on the line. Rothman emphasized his ”very strong defense of him when I was on the House Judiciary Committee during the impeachment proceedings” in explaining why he doesn’t fear Clinton or expect him to get involved in this race.

Full story

New Mexico: Rand Paul Backs Greg Sowards in GOP Primary

(Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul today endorsed a heavy underdog in the New Mexico Republican Senate primary.

Paul, a tea party leader in Congress, is backing businessman Greg Sowards, who has an uphill climb against former Rep. Heather Wilson in the June 5 GOP contest.

“I’m calling on conservatives, libertarians, and Tea Party activists in New Mexico and across the nation to support Greg Sowards,” Paul said in a statement. “He will stand for the Constitution and I’m proud to stand with him.” Full story

Connecticut: William Tong Drops Senate Bid, Endorses Christopher Murphy

Rep. Christopher Murphy is the frontrunner in Connecticut's open-seat Senate race. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Connecticut state Rep. William Tong (D) exited the Senate race today and endorsed the frontrunner for the Democratic nomination, Rep. Christopher Murphy.

Murphy also picked up the endorsement of Gov. Dan Malloy (D) and Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman (D) today.

“I am proud to endorse Chris Murphy for the United States Senate and join his team,” Tong said in a statement released by the Murphy campaign. “I’ve learned a lot about Chris in this campaign. We are both sons of Connecticut who love our home state.” Full story

California: New Howard Berman Ad Features Betty White

Betty White, the 90-year-old actress starring in the hit TV show “Hot in Cleveland,” just waded into the hottest Congressional race in the San Fernando Valley.

White’s endorsement is featured prominently in an ad for Rep. Howard Berman, who is facing off against fellow Democratic Rep. Brad Sherman after redistricting. The spot stars White and her “Hot in Cleveland” co-star Wendie Malick, both of whom attest to Berman’s effectiveness in Congress — specifically citing his support for the humane treatment of animals and community safety.

“Thanks to Howard we have hundreds more police officers patrolling Valley streets,” Malick says. “And he has very nice blue eyes,” White adds.

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

Arizona: Jim DeMint Endorses Jeff Flake in Senate Primary

(Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

South Carolina Sen. Jim DeMint today endorsed Rep. Jeff Flake in the Arizona GOP Senate primary.

In a letter to his Senate Conservatives Fund, a political action committee dedicated to electing conservatives to the Senate, DeMint wrote that “nobody has done more to advance the cause of freedom than Jeff Flake.” Full story

South Carolina: Chad Prosser Up With TV Spot in 7th District

South Carolina Congressional candidate Chad Prosser, the former director of the state’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism, is up with a new TV ad today.

“Chad Prosser is going to shake up Washington,” a male announcer says with a syrupy voice at the top of the ad. “A conservative businessman, Prosser used his private-sector experience to create jobs.”

Indiana: Sarah Palin Backs Richard Mourdock for Senate

(Shira Toeplitz/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Updated | 5:41 p.m. BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Former GOP vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin threw her support behind Treasurer Richard Mourdock’s (R) bid to unseat six-term Sen. Dick Lugar (R-Ind.) today.

It’s a rare endorsement this cycle from the former Alaska governor, who has been notably less aggressive with her Congressional endorsements than in 2010.

“I join commonsense conservatives in endorsing Richard Mourdock to be the next Senator from Indiana,” Palin wrote on her Facebook page. “Richard Mourdock is the conservative choice for Indiana. Senator Lugar’s 36 years of service as a Senator are appreciated, but it’s time for the torch to pass to conservative leadership in Washington that promises to rein in government spending now.”

Palin’s endorsement puts her at odds with her 2008 runningmate, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz). Lugar’s campaign started airing a radio advertisement this week touting McCain’s support in his own words.

“Indiana is fortunate to have a Senator like Dick Lugar,” McCain says in the radio spot. “Yet, some in Indiana are claiming Dick Lugar is [President Barack] Obama’s friend. That’s ridiculous. And I know it firsthand. Because I fight alongside him every day in the Senate. Dick Lugar is a patriot and a hero, and we need him in the United States Senate.”

Palin’s backing comes less than two weeks before the May 8 primary and after momentum has clearly shifted in Mourdock’s favor. During the last four weeks, national conservative groups, such as the Club for Growth, rallied to Mourdock’s campaign by buying millions in television advertisements on his behalf.

“I appreciate the support of Governor Palin and her endorsement of my campaign to bring conservative values to the U.S. Senate,” Mourdock said in a statement. “Her support will go a long way toward mobilizing conservatives to vote on May 8.”

California: Liberal Group Backs Lori Saldana in Competitive District

The Progressive Change Campaign Committee today will make its first endorsement in California this cycle, backing Lori Saldana in the 52nd district top-two primary.

Saldana, a former state Assemblywoman, and San Diego Port Commission Chairman Scott Peters are the two leading Democrats running to take on Rep. Brian Bilbray (R) in this San Diego district. They will all compete on June 5 to advance to the general election in one of several districts in the state Democrats hope to pick up. Full story

Indiana: Senate Race Sees $3.5M in Outside Spending

The majority of outside groups spending money in Indiana's Senate race are boosting state Treasurer Richard Mourdock. (Shira Toeplitz/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Outside groups have made almost $3.5 million in independent expenditures so far in the competitive Indiana GOP Senate primary, according to online data from the Federal Election Commission.

The bulk of the spending, about $2.3 million so far, has been by groups supporting state Treasurer Richard Mourdock’s effort to defeat six-term Sen. Dick Lugar. For example, in the past 24 hours, the Club for Growth put down a $421,000 media buy blasting the Senator.

But it’s still not more money than Lugar’s campaign has spent so far. His most recent fundraising report showed his campaign had spent $5.4 million through April 18. Meanwhile, Mourdock’s campaign will report spending just more than $2 million through the same date, according to his spokesman. Full story