Michigan: Kerry Bentivolio’s Teaching Troubles

Kerry Bentivolio, the GOP nominee in Michigan’s 11th district, had trouble as a high school teacher, according to a new Detroit Free Press report.

Fowlerville High School officials reportedly reprimanded Bentivolio for telling students they were “just a paycheck to me,” threatening to make them cry and pounding on their desks.

Bentivolio faces internist Syed Taj (D) this November in the suburban district west of Detroit. Republicans viewed the district as a safe bet until recently, when a strange series of events made this the most unpredictable House race of the cycle. Roll Call rates the contest as Leans Republican. Full story

Pennsylvania: Kathy Boockvar on the Air Against Mike Fitzpatrick

Attorney Kathy Boockvar (D) will start airing advertisements today in her bid to unseat Rep. Mike Fitzpatrick (R) in southeastern Pennsylvania.

The $38,000 buy will run an introductory, semi-biographical spot this week.

“It’s just common sense — work together, make smart decisions and improve our bottom line,” Boockvar says in the spot. “That’s what I’ve done at work, as a mediator and at home, as a wife and mother. And it’s what I’ll do in Washington.”

Fitzpatrick is seeking re-election in the competitive 8th district. The seat represents Democrats’ best shot to pick up a seat this November in Pennsylvania, although Roll Call rates this race as Leans Republican.

The Congressman has a major financial advantage over Boockvar. He reported $1.2 million in the bank at the end of June, while the Democrat had $421,000 in the bank at the same time.

Indiana: Senate Majority PAC Boosts Joe Donnelly With $500K Buy

(Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

A Democratic super PAC is set to swoop into Indiana on Tuesday to boost Rep. Joe Donnelly with a $500,000 ad buy for the increasingly competitive Senate race.

Majority PAC will air this spot targeting Donnelly’s Republican opponent, state Treasurer Richard Mourdock, on Social Security:

Full story

Republicans Pile On Criticism of Todd Akin’s Rape Comment

Sen. Scott Brown (above) called on Rep. Todd Akin to relinquish his Senate nomination after his controversial remarks about rape. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

On day two of the media firestorm around Rep. Todd Akin’s (R-Mo.) comments about rape, the Republican Senate nominee is discovering that his harshest critics are not Democrats, but members of his own party.

Sen. Claire McCaskill (D) was restrained in her criticism of her opponent this morning on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.” The incident has breathed new life into her campaign for re-election.

Instead, it is Republicans in tough fall races who are piling on:

Full story

Indiana: New Dem Poll Shows Tied Senate Race

Rep. Joe Donnelly (left) is in a dead heat with opponent Richard Mourdock in the latest poll released by his campaign. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Rep. Joe Donnelly (D-Ind.) released a new poll today showing he remains in a dead heat with state Treasurer Richard Mourdock in the Hoosier State’s open Senate race.

Donnelly received 41 percent to Mourdock’s 40 percent in the survey obtained by Roll Call and paid for by the Democrat’s campaign.

The survey shows Democrats believe the race remains competitive several months after Mourdock defeated six-term Sen. Dick Lugar for the Republican nomination in May. Roll Call rates the Indiana Senate race as Leans Republican. Full story

House Race Ratings: Changes in Michigan and Washington

Rep. Steve Israel, chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, was pleased with the outcome of Tuesday's primaries. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

House Democrats had a productive primary night Tuesday. But how good was it, really?

In Michigan, Democrats nominated their strongest possible general election candidate, a self-funding former state lawmaker, to challenge freshman Rep. Justin Amash (R) in the 3rd district. Another potential opportunity was solidified in the vacant 11th district, where Republicans nominated a libertarian reindeer rancher who is untested and unvetted as a candidate. Finally, on the West Coast, Democrats nominated the best possible candidate, former Microsoft executive Suzan DelBene, in Washington’s vacant 1st district.

“We were presented with some good opportunities last night,” Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman Steve Israel (N.Y.) boasted to reporters Wednesday. “Make no mistake about it: Michigan was a huge loss for Republicans and a real opportunity for Democrats.”

Full story

Michigan: AG Will File Charges in Thaddeus McCotter Petition Scandal Thursday, Per Report

(Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette will file charges Thursday in the case of former Rep. Thaddeus McCotter’s (R) erroneous ballot petitions, the Detroit Free Press reported.

Schuette is scheduled to announce those criminal charges Thursday, and multiple people will face felony and misdemeanor charges, per the report.

McCotter dropped his re-election bid in June after he failed to file the requisite 1,000 signatures to make the Republican ballot. But his petition errors were so egregious that the attorney general opened an investigation into them.

The Free Press report said it’s unclear whether McCotter will be charged on Thursday. Full story

Oklahoma: Ex-Sen. David Boren Backs Rob Wallace to Succeed Son

Ex-Sen. David Boren (left) endorsed a Democrat running to succeed his son, retiring Rep. Dan Boren (right). (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Former Assistant District Attorney Rob Wallace today picked up the support of one of Oklahoma’s best-known Democrats: former Sen. David Boren.

Democrats expect Wallace to be their nominee after the Aug. 28 runoff, when he faces seed company owner Wayne Herriman. Boren’s seal of approval only helps Wallace’s endeavor.

The 2nd district seat is open following the retirement of the former Senator’s son, Rep. Dan Boren (D-Okla.). National Democrats face an uphill race to hold this “Little Dixie” House seat in November, and Roll Call rates this contest as Leans Republicans. Full story

Virginia: Paul Hirschbiel Launches First TV Ad for 2nd District

Businessman Paul Hirschbiel launched the first television ad of his campaign for Virginia’s 2nd district.

The ad begins airing Tuesday and is designed to introduce the Virginia Beach Democrat, whose first bid for public office is a challenge to freshman GOP Rep. Scott Rigell. The spot highlights Hirschbiel’s work in the community, specifically founding early childhood education programs in the Hampton Roads area. Full story

North Dakota: Heidi Heitkamp Leads Rick Berg in Poll

A new Democratic poll shows Rep. Rick Berg (R) trailing former Attorney General Heidi Heitkamp (D). (Chris Maddaloni/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Former North Dakota Attorney General Heidi Heitkamp (D) led Rep. Rick Berg (R) 50 percent to 44 percent in a Senate race poll conducted for the North Dakota Democratic Party. Full story

Michigan: Kerry Bentivolio Nabs Rand Paul Endorsement

LIVONIA, Mich. — Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) backed reindeer rancher Kerry Bentivolio’s (R) bid for the 11th district today.

Paul’s endorsement lends Bentivolio’s campaign additional credibility ahead of the Aug. 7 primary.

Bentivolio is the only Republican on primary ballot, but local GOP officials are supporting former state Sen. Nancy Cassis (R) as a write-in candidate because they view her as a more viable candidate.

Rep. Thaddeus McCotter (R) resigned from the 11th district seat earlier this month after failing gather enough signatures to make the ballot.

This marks Bentivolio’s second Congressional endorsement. He already picked up the support of freshman Rep. Justin Amash (R-Mich.).

Michigan Republican Reps. Tim Walberg and Mike Rogers backed Cassis.

The district leans Republican, according to Roll Call’s race ratings. But that could change depending on the primary results.

Arizona: Wil Cardon Dismisses Jeff Flake Endorsements

Rep. Jeff Flake's GOP primary opponent for the Arizona Senate seat said Flake's backing from Sen. John McCain will have no effect on the race. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Businessman Wil Cardon on Tuesday politely dismissed the ability of Republican Sens. Jon Kyl and John McCain to influence voters in his Senate GOP primary battle with Rep. Jeff Flake.

Kyl and McCain endorsed Flake earlier this month, a move Cardon described as expected.

“I have respect for the service of Sens. Jon Kyl and John McCain, but they’re part of the old guard,” he said.

Kyl, whose retirement created this open-seat race, is appearing in a television ad alongside Flake. The spot began airing this week. McCain has called the Cardon campaign “disturbing” and said he worried that Cardon’s attacks “might make it harder in the general election for us to elect Jeff Flake to the United States Senate.”

Former Surgeon General Richard Carmona is the presumptive Democratic nominee. Roll Call rates this race as Leans Republican.

Arizona: Sarah Palin Endorses Jeff Flake

(Douglas Graham/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin endorsed Rep. Jeff Flake in the GOP nomination fight to replace retiring Sen. Jon Kyl (R).

“The United States Senate needs a leader like Jeff Flake,” Palin, the 2008 GOP vice presidential nominee, wrote in a letter to Flake. “Jeff is a proven conservative crusader, and today I am proud to announce my support for his campaign to become the next U.S. Senator from the great state of Arizona.”

Full story

Arizona: Jim DeMint, Pat Toomey Raise Money for Jeff Flake

(Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

More and more Republican Senators are actively supporting Rep. Jeff Flake’s Senate campaign.

Flake is set to host a pair of Washington, D.C., fundraisers Wednesday and Thursday, according to an invitation to the events.

Special guests to this evening’s fundraiser at Charlie Palmer Steak include GOP Sens. Jim DeMint (S.C.) and Pat Toomey (Pa.). Attendees are being asked to contribute $1,000.

On Thursday, Sen. Lamar Alexander (Tenn.) is set to be a special guest at Flake’s luncheon fundraiser at Johnny’s Half Shell. PACs are being asked to contribute $1,000; individuals are being asked to donate $500.

Flake is embroiled in a nasty primary with real estate investor Wil Cardon in the race to replace retiring Sen. Jon Kyl (R). Former Surgeon General Richard Carmona is the presumptive Democratic nominee. Roll Call rates this race as Leans Republican.

Indiana: Jackie Walorski on the Air With First TV Spot

Former state Rep. Jackie Walorski’s (R) campaign went on the air today with her first television spot in the competitive 2nd district race against Iraq War veteran Brendan Mullen (D).

“I was born in South Bend, and I’ve been a Hoosier all my life,” Walorski says in the ad, which highlights her local roots in the north-central Indiana district.

Full story