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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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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Montana: Jon Tester Launches Sixth TV Ad

Montana Sen. Jon Tester continued his aggressive media strategy this week by launching yet another in a string of positive TV ads.

The latest is a 60-second spot featuring the Democrat’s wife, Sharla, and shots of Tester climbing into his tractor, reading to young students, sitting in a science lab with college students, speaking with veterans, sitting at a small table with senior citizens and walking with shotgun-wielding hunters. Full story

Arizona: NRCC Releases New Ad Against Ron Barber

The National Republican Congressional Committee released a new ad targeting Arizona 8th district Democratic nominee Ron Barber that ties him to Medicare cuts, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and President Barack Obama.

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Montana: Denny Rehberg Airs First TV Ad

Rep. Denny Rehberg (above) launched his first TV ad in his race against Sen. Jon Tester. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Montana Rep. Denny Rehberg today launched his first TV ad in his challenge to Democratic Sen. Jon Tester.

The ad, which a source tracking ad buys said was for $50,000, opens with a quick clip of Tester saying, “You’ve got to have honest leadership.”

“But Jon Tester’s dishonest attacks hide his votes for higher taxes 55 times, to raise his own pay, spend your tax dollars on bonuses for Wall Street executives, give Obama his way with your money 95 percent of the time,” the ad’s announcer says. Full story

Massachusetts: Scott Brown Launches First TV Ad

The Bay State Senate air war has begun — and it’s surprisingly positive.

Sen. Scott Brown, in a highly competitive race with Harvard Law School professor Elizabeth Warren (D), launched his first television ad of the cycle today. Backed by a significant six-figure ad buy on broadcast and cable TV, the positive 30-second spot highlights the Republican’s independence and biography.

It’s competing with an ad from Warren, backed by about $800,000, that’s already on the air.

Tim Kaine: Barack Obama Link a Wash Politically

(Chris Maddaloni/CQ Roll Call)

Tim Kaine thinks the Senate and presidential races in Virginia are as close as most recent polls have shown and conceded his political fate is closely tied to the performance of his good friend in the White House.

Kaine spoke with reporters today in Washington, D.C., at a breakfast hosted by the Democratic-leaning think tank Third Way, three days after rallying a Richmond crowd to help kick off President Barack Obama’s re-election campaign. The Senate candidate and former Virginia governor said there will undoubtedly be a “strong linkage” in the results of the presidential race and Kaine’s expected matchup with Republican George Allen. Full story

Arizona: Democratic PAC Hitting TV Airwaves in Special

The Democratic-aligned House Majority PAC is placing a $340,000 television ad buy in Arizona’s 8th district special election to replace former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D).

The three-week buy is set to begin running Friday on broadcast and cable in Tucson, and targets Republican nominee Jesse Kelly, who faces former Giffords aide Ron Barber. The buy is intended to supplement a two week ad buy placed by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, which is due to expire the same day the House Majority PAC TV spot hits the airwaves.

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Montana: Jon Tester’s Fifth TV Ad Focuses on Ethics

Sen. Jon Tester (D) today launched his fifth television ad of the campaign — a positive spot that highlights his ethics record.

The ad features three voters touting their support for Tester, including a retired federal prosecutor, a teacher and former Rep. Pat Williams (D-Mont.). It’s a follow-up to Tester’s 2006 campaign, which focused on the ethics issues of then-Sen. Conrad Burns (R). However, the ad mistakenly tells viewers to go to TesterEthicsRules.com for more information. The actual address is TesterEthicsRecord.com.

“Jon Tester promised us he’d be a different kind of Senator, and he is,” retired federal prosecutor Sherry Matteucci says in the ad. 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

Nevada: Shelley Berkley Launches First TV Ad

Nevada Rep. Shelley Berkley began her on-air introduction to Washoe County voters today with her first TV ad of the Senate campaign.

In the 60-second ad, the Democrat highlights a piece of legislation she sponsored that ensures all Veterans Affairs medical centers are outfitted with substance abuse treatment services. The ad features the father of Iraq War veteran Justin Bailey, whose death following a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder led to the passage of the bill.

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.

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Arizona: Jeb Bush Endorses Matt Salmon; Raul Grijalva Backs David Schapira

State Senate Minority Leader David Schapira (above) picked up the endorsement of Rep. Raúl Grijalva. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call)

Two Arizona House candidates each picked up an endorsement that will likely help them in their contested primaries.

Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush (R) is endorsing former Rep. Matt Salmon in Salmon’s quest to return to Congress in Arizona’s 5th district. And on Monday, Rep. Raúl Grijalva (D) announced he is backing state Senate Minority Leader David Schapira in his race for the 9th district seat.

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Arizona: NRCC Releases Ad Slamming Barber

Updated 5 p.m. | The National Republican Congressional Committee upped its ante behind a new ad it is airing in the special election to replace former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D).

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