Virginia: Tim Kaine, George Allen Debate With Remaining Undecideds in Mind

Former Democratic Gov. Tim Kaine debates former Republican Sen. George Allen in their first televised debate for Virginia's Senate seat. The debate was hosted by the Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce and NBC4 Washington at the Capital One Conference Center. (Chris Maddaloni/CQ Roll Call)

McLEAN, Va. — Democrat Tim Kaine and Republican George Allen met today in their third debate of the long campaign for Virginia’s open Senate seat.

The two former governors touched on themes prevalent on the campaign trail — health care, defense sequester cuts, taxes and the economy — and drew a clear line in the sand for the independent Northern Virginia voters, who will play a determinate role in the outcome of the race.

“Folks, there’s a clear choice in this Senate election, in which approach is going to be best for jobs here in our country,” Allen said in his closing remarks.

The debate, hosted by the Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce and NBC-4, came a day after two public polls showed Kaine for the first time pulling out to a significant lead over his Republican opponent. The two have been tied since Kaine entered the race about 17 months ago, and both Allen and Kaine downplayed the polling results to reporters after the event. Full story

Massachusetts: Harry Reid Cancels Votes So Scott Brown Can Debate

(Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) today accused his GOP counterparts of trying to hold votes later this evening to shield Sen. Scott Brown (R-Mass.) from debating his Democratic opponent, Elizabeth Warren.

“I’m sorry. We have no more votes today. It’s obvious to me what’s going on. I’ve been to a few of these rodeos,” Reid said. “It’s obvious there’s a big stall taking place. One of the Senators who doesn’t want to debate tonight won’t be in the debate. Well, he can’t used the Senate as an excuse. There will be no more votes today.”

Brown and Warren, whom Reid urged to run for Senate, are set to debate each other for the first time at 7 p.m. today.

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Virginia: Tim Kaine Leads George Allen in Two Polls

(Douglas Graham/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Two new polls released Wednesday showed former Gov. Tim Kaine (D) had a lead outside of the margin of error in his campaign against former Gov. George Allen (R) for Virginia’s open Senate seat.

A new Washington Post poll showed 51 percent of likely voters said they supported Kaine, while 43 percent backed his Republican rival. The economy was the dominant issue on respondents’ minds.

Both men have left favorable impressions on registered voters, each topping 50 percent in their favorability ratings.

Thirty-two percent of registered voter respondents identified themselves as Democrats, while 24 percent stated they were Republican. Thirty-five percent were independent.

A Quinnipiac/New York Times/CBS poll, also released Wednesday, showed almost the exact same results in Virginia. In that poll, Kaine led Allen 51 percent to 44 percent. Full story

Wisconsin: Tammy Baldwin Moves Up in Polling

(Tom Williams CQ/Roll Call File Phorto)

Two polls released Wednesday show Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D) has made progress in her race against former Gov. Tommy Thompson (R) for the state’s open Senate seat.

A Marquette University Law School poll released Wednesday showed Baldwin leading Thompson by a 9-point margin. Fifty percent of likely voters said they favored her, while 41 percent said they backed Thompson. It is a complete reversal from Marquette’s mid-August poll, which showed Thompson with a 9-point lead. Republicans contend that this latest Marquette poll oversamples Democrats. Full story

Massachusetts: Elizabeth Warren Leading Scott Brown in Recent Polls

(By Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

In an email to supporters in February, Sen. Scott Brown (R) wrote: “I know I am the underdog in this race.” For the first time in his fiercely fought contest with Democratic nominee Elizabeth Warren, the data supports his assertion.

Warren led Brown in a series of recent polls. A nonpartisan Western New England University poll of likely voters conducted Sept. 6-13 found Warren leading by 6 points, 50 percent to Brown’s 44 percent. A nonpartisan Suffolk University poll of likely voters conducted Sept. 13-16 found Warren leading Brown by 4 points, 48 percent to 44 percent. And a poll from the Democratic-leaning Public Policy Polling conducted Sept. 13-16 found Warren leading by 2 points, 48 percent to 46 percent. Full story

California: Scott Peters Launches First TV Ad

In a top pickup opportunity for Democrats in California, San Diego Port Commissioner Scott Peters (D) launched the first television ad of his bid to defeat Rep. Brian Bilbray (R).

The clever ad features young children sitting around a boardroom table arguing, screaming and pounding their fists. Full story

Pennsylvania: Mark Critz Airs First Spot Against Keith Rothfus

Rep. Mark Critz (D) hit the airwaves for the first time today in his heavily targeted race to fend off a challenge from attorney Keith Rothfus (R).

The spot focuses on Critz’ conservative credentials, highlighting his opposition to President Barack Obama’s energy policies.

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California: Dan Lungren, Ami Bera Tied In Democratic Poll

A new poll shows Republican Rep. Dan Lungren (above) tied with his Democratic challenged in the race for California's 7th district. (Bill Clark CQ/Roll Call File Photo)

A Democratic poll released this morning found physician Ami Bera (D) and Rep. Dan Lungren (R) dead even in California’s 7th district.

Both got 47 percent, with 6 percent undecided. It’s their second straight matchup in the Sacramento area, but the district was altered in favor of Democrats during redistricting.

The poll also found President Barack Obama ahead of former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, 52 percent to 44 percent. Full story

Michigan: House Democrats Air Second Spot Against Dan Benishek

House Democrats will start airing their second spot today targeting freshman Rep. Dan Benishek (R-Mich.) in the competitive 1st district race.

Democrats shifted their line of attack in this advertisement, targeting Benishek for voting “to give Members of Congress taxpayer-funded health care. For life,” an announcer says.

Benishek faces a rematch with former state Rep. Gary McDowell (D) in one of the highest-profile races in the country. Roll Call rates the contest as a Tossup.

Like every House Republican, Benishek voted in July to repeal the health care overhaul law. Part of that law requires Members of Congress to receive health care from public insurance exchanges instead of the current federal employee program.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee will spend $51,000 to air the spot in the Marquette market, according to a source with knowledge of the buy. House Democrats already aired a spot targeting Benishek on Medicare in the nearby Traverse City market last week — their first independent expenditure of the fall campaign advertisement season.

Race Rating Change: North Dakota Moves in Dems’ Direction

Republican Rep. Rick Berg is running for Senate in North Dakota. (Chris Maddaloni/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Updated 11:30 p.m. | This week proves what a difference a strong candidate can make, even in partisan states.

In the wake of the implosion of Rep. Todd Akin (Mo.), Republicans quietly bemoaned their policy of remaining neutral in Senate primaries. But in North Dakota, where Republicans had an uncompetitive primary, it’s become clear that the GOP nominee is not as strong a recruit as he initially appeared to be.

At the start of the cycle, Republicans believed this seat would be an easy pickup. But former state Attorney General Heidi Heitkamp (D) proved a strong candidate, and she’s run a nearly flawless campaign against the GOP nominee, Rep. Rick Berg.

Accordingly, Roll Call is belatedly changing its North Dakota race rating to Tossup. For months, we rated this race as Leans Republican, citing the GOP’s past political performance in the state. But over the summer, Democrats ran a stronger campaign here — and polling shows it’s working for Heitkamp. Full story

Montana: DSCC Launches Second Ad Against Denny Rehberg

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee today launched its second TV ad in Montana, where Sen. Jon Tester (D) is fending off a challenge from Rep. Denny Rehberg (R) in what is expected to be one of the closest races in the country. Full story

Georgia: Doug Collins Wins House Race, Likely Headed to Congress

(Douglas Graham/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Updated 11:32 p.m. | State Rep. Doug Collins won the GOP runoff today in Georgia’s 9th district and is almost certain to be coming to Congress from the ultra-Republican seat in the northeast portion of the state. Close with Gov. Nathan Deal (R) and backed by the Atlanta Republican establishment, Collins easily won the runoff, besting conservative talk radio host Martha Zoller by almost 10 points.

With 98.1 percent of precincts reporting, Collins had 54.6 percent to Zoller’s 45. 4 percent, the Associated Press reported.

With support from former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin (R), former Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.), and former GOP presidential contender Herman Cain, Zoller cast herself as the insurgent tea party candidate against Collins, who has establishment roots. Full story

Todd Akin Staying Put, as Top Missouri Republicans Tell Him to Exit

(Christian Gooden/St. Louis Post-Dispatch/Associated Press)

Updated 2 p.m. | Rep. Todd Akin said he is staying in the Missouri Senate race despite the national firestorm sparked by his controversial comments about rape and calls from the Republican Party establishment in his own state for him to step aside.

“We are going to continue with this race,” the GOP Congressman told former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee in a radio interview this afternoon.

Akin’s decision comes as Missouri Sen. Roy Blunt issued a joint statement with former U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft and former Sens. Kit Bond, John Danforth and Jim Talent — all Republicans from Missouri — calling on Akin to drop out of the race. Full story

Virginia: Tim Kaine Cites Bipartisan Record in First TV Ad

Updated 2:30 p.m. | Tim Kaine launched the first television ad of his Senate campaign in Virginia today, a positive spot highlighting his record as governor.

The ad is part of the Democrat’s $4.5 million TV time buy placed between now and Election Day. It comes amid a flurry of outside spending — and direct attacks of his record — which his campaign said has already reached $8.5 million worth of advertising against Kaine.

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Missouri: Todd Akin Stands Up Piers Morgan

In the most recent chapter of the bizarre saga surrounding embattled Rep. Todd Akin, the Missouri Senate GOP nominee ducked out of a prime-time interview with CNN’s Piers Morgan, leading the host to dub him “a gutless little twerp.”

Akin had been attempting a restorative media tour today, agreeing to be interviewed earlier by conservatives Mike Huckabee and Sean Hannity. But facing pressure from top GOP leaders, as well as from some of the hosts themselves, the Missouri Republican — who said Sunday that “legitimate rape” rarely leads to pregnancy — apparently got cold feet.

“Congressman, you have an open invitation to join me in that chair whenever you feel up to it because if you don’t keep your promise to be on the show, then you are what we would call in Britain, a gutless little twerp,” said Morgan, who showed an empty chair throughout his program. Full story