Arizona: Barber Announces Run for Full Term; Candidate Drops Out

Ron Barber, former staffer to Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D), announced this afternoon that he would seek a full term for Congress in the fall.

Previously, he had only committed to fill her seat in the June special election to complete the remainder of her term.

“Some people might ask, Hey Ron, what took you so long?” Barber said in a statement. “I don’t rush into things, but once I make a decision, I stick with it for the long haul. But don’t take my word for it. Ask my wife Nancy. We started dating in 1963.”

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Maine: Baldacci Opts Against Senate Run

Former Maine Gov. John Baldacci announced this morning that he would not run for Senate, becoming the third serious Democratic candidate to drop out of the race to replace Sen. Olympia Snowe (R).

“For me, politics has always been about the people you represent, the people you meet and talk to, the folks who need your help and put their trust in you, who are convinced that you can make things better. I’ve always tried to put their interests ahead of my own. This is not the right time for me personally,” Baldacci said in a statement, according to Portland television affiliate WMTW.

It is yet one more turn in a race that has proven to be one of the most bizarre this cycle.

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Massachusetts: Scott Brown Gets Olympia Snowe Endorsement

(Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

In a boost to his independent brand, Sen. Scott Brown (R-Mass.) today got the endorsement of retiring Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-Maine).

“In an institution characterized by gridlock and partisanship, Scott Brown is a much-needed breath of fresh air,” Snowe said in a statement released by the Brown campaign. “During the last two years, I have worked closely with Scott and have come to appreciate his independent spirit and bipartisan outlook.” Full story

Maine: Chellie Pingree Passes on Senate Bid

(Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Maine Democratic Rep. Chellie Pingree has opted not to run for retiring Sen. Olympia Snowe’s seat.

“After careful consideration I have decided to run for re-election to the U.S. House this year,” she said in a statement. “There is much at stake in this election and although the prospect of running for and possibly serving in the United States Senate was very exciting, in the end I concluded that I will best serve the people of Maine by running for re-election to the House.” Full story

Maine: Poll Shows Independent Leading Senate Race

A poll on the open-seat Maine Senate race was released today showing Democrats could have trouble winning a three-way contest.

The Public Policy Polling survey showed Rep. Chellie Pingree, who’s considering running for the Democratic nomination, soundly beating GOP contenders. But when factoring in now-declared Independent candidate former Gov. Angus King, Pingree falls to second place behind King.

The poll was the source of  much discussion on Monday among Maine political operatives. Several unaligned Democrats privy to the results Monday were spooked and expressed uncertainty about a Democratic victory given the dynamics of a three-way contest. Full story

Maine: King Enters Senate Race; Democrats Express Unease

Former Maine Gov. Angus King (I) declared his candidacy to succeed retiring Sen. Olympia Snowe (R) this evening.

Despite his lack of official party affiliation, state operatives have repeatedly described King as a worthy opponent, more frontrunner than spoiler. His political ideology is described as socially moderate or liberal and fiscally conservative.

And the middle ground is where King is planting his flag.

“In a closely divided Senate, I can be a broker for common sense,” King said in his announcement at Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine. “In a national debate that’s largely taken over by the extremes … I can speak for the middle.”

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Maine: Indie Angus King Set to Run for Olympia Snowe Seat

Former Maine Gov. Angus King (I) will throw his hat into the race to succeed retiring Sen. OIympia Snowe (R), according to local reports. He will make the announcement tonight at Bowdoin College.

The Portland Press Herald and Boston Globe are reporting that King will run as an Independent, a factor that will make the normal political calculus difficult to determine. King was originally a Democrat, but he served as an Independent governor in the 1990s and early 2000s. In an interview last week with Roll Call, King declined to indicate which party he would caucus with if elected as an Independent.

Among the Democrats weighing Senate bids are Rep. Chellie Pingree and ex-Gov. John Baldacci. Republicans mulling the open-seat contest are Maine Secretary of State Charlie Summers, state Treasurer Bruce Poliquin and Attorney General William Schneider. Full story

Arizona: Democrats Looking Ahead to Fall Campaign for Gabrielle Giffords’ Seat

Arizona state Rep. Steve Farley announced today he is running this fall in the 2nd district, the Tucson-area seat that closely resembles the district formerly held by Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D).

The Democrat’s candidacy is significant because he has close ties to Giffords, who resigned in January. He told Roll Call he discussed his candidacy with Giffords’ husband, Mark Kelly, but did not reveal the details of the conversation. Full story

Maine: Mike Michaud, Chellie Pingree Prepare Senate Campaigns

Both Reps. Chellie Pingree (above) and Mike Michaud could end up running for Maine's open Senate seat. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Maine Democratic Reps. Chellie Pingree and Mike Michaud have begun the process of building Senate campaigns, even though neither has come to a final decision on whether to run to succeed retiring Sen. Olympia Snowe (R).

Sources in both camps maintain that the looming March 15 deadline to file forced the two Representatives to move ahead with gathering petition signatures as they still mull a Senate run.

While there have been reports that national Democrats are pushing for the two Members to decide between themselves which of them will run for Senate, it is not beyond the realm of possibility that the two will square off in the Democratic primary, according to a Maine Democrat.

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New Mexico: Heather Wilson Up Big in Senate Primary Poll

Former New Mexico Rep. Heather Wilson is the overwhelming favorite to win the Republican Senate nomination, according to an internal poll released today.

Public Opinion Strategies partner Glen Bolger conducted the poll less than a week after Lt. Gov. John Sanchez’s Feb. 9 announcement that he was dropping out of the race. His decision left conservative businessman Greg Sowards as Wilson’s only GOP challenger. Full story

Nevada: Ad War Erupts on Spanish-Language Radio

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee released a Spanish-language radio ad today in Nevada that ties Republican Sen. Dean Heller to Sharron Angle.

The ad, launched in coordination with Rep. Shelley Berkley (D), twice mentions Angle, the 2010 Senate candidate and tea party lightning rod, and claims Heller is running “an anti-Latino campaign,” according to a translated transcript of the ad.

The 60-second ad goes on to say that Heller wants to copy neighboring Arizona’s beefed-up immigration law and that he opposes the DREAM Act.

“In Republican Dean Heller, we have another Sharron Angle,” the ad’s announcer says in Spanish. Full story

California: Democrat Julia Brownley Enters New 26th District Race

California Assemblywoman Julia Brownley announced Monday that she is running in the new 26th district, which will be hotly contested by both parties in November.

“I’m thrilled to announce my candidacy for Congress in a district I’ve represented for over five years,” the Democrat said in a statement. “It’s clear that we need to end the partisan gridlock in Washington and start representing the interests of the voters who elected us.”

Ventura County Supervisor Steve Bennett, who was the Democrats’ frontrunner before he dropped out of the race on Feb. 11, immediately endorsed Brownley. She faces three other Democrats and at least two Republicans, including state Sen. Tony Strickland, in the June 5 jungle primary. Full story

California: Steve Bennett Drops Congressional Bid

Ventura County Supervisor Steve Bennett dropped out of the race for California’s new 26th district, leaving a gaping hole for Democrats hoping to pick up the seat.

Bennett, who raised $241,000 in the fourth quarter, announced his decision over the weekend at the state party convention in San Diego. He had been the Democratic favorite since entering the race on Nov. 16.

In his place, the Ventura County Star reported that Assemblywoman Julia Brownley said she will take a serious look at the race. Full story

Massachusetts: Poll Has Senate Race Essentially Tied

(Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call)

A new poll found Massachusetts Sen. Scott Brown (R) and presumptive Democratic nominee Harvard Law School professor Elizabeth Warren essentially tied in the tossup Senate race.

Warren led Brown by 3 points in a horse-race matchup, 46 percent to 43 percent — within the margin of error. Eleven percent of those polled didn’t know for whom they would vote. Full story

Arizona: Gabrielle Giffords Asked Aide to Run for Congress

(Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Ron Barber’s campaign for Congress launched full throttle today. After weeks of speculation about whether he would run to succeed his boss, ex-Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, Barber made it official, telling reporters that the Arizona Democrat personally asked him to run for her seat.

On a telephone call with reporters Giffords’ former district director said the Congresswoman asked a few weeks ago, “Ron, will you run?” He said after deliberating with his family, he made his decision on Tuesday and resigned from his job. He will have the full support of Giffords, who resigned Jan. 25, and her husband, Mark Kelly.

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