Maryland: Washington Post, MoveOn.org Endorse in 6th District

The Washington Post endorsed John Delaney in Maryland's 6th district Democratic primary. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

The endorsements keep coming in Maryland’s 6th district Democratic primary, with the top two contenders each scoring notable support in recent days.

Businessman John Delaney earned the support Sunday from the editorial board of region’s most influential newspaper, the Washington Post. Meanwhile, state Senate Majority Leader Rob Garagiola announced that MoveOn.org is backing his candidacy.

The two men are currently engaged in what has become a largely negative primary. Almost daily, one campaign or the other releases negative opposition research on his opponent’s record. The primary is April 3.

Ohio: Marco Rubio Stumps for Josh Mandel

Florida Sen. Marco Rubio (above) has endorsed Josh Mandel for Senate in Ohio. (Chris Maddaloni/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Fresh off last week’s GOP primary victory, Ohio Treasurer Josh Mandel announced Monday the backing of Sen. Marco Rubio (Fla.), the first-term Republican’s first Senate endorsement of the 2012 cycle. Full story

New Mexico: Balderas, Griego Headline Convention

State Sen. Eric Griego was No. 1 among 1st district candidates at New Mexico’s Democratic Party convention. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Senate candidate Hector Balderas outperformed expectations, and state Sen. Eric Griego finished on top among 1st district candidates over the weekend at New Mexico’s Democratic Party convention to decide primary ballot position. Full story

New Jersey: Race to Succeed Donald Payne Comes Into Focus

As constituents of the 10th district are paying their final respects to the late Rep. Donald Payne, New Jersey Democrats are beginning to look ahead to the future of his Congressional seat. Full story

New Hampshire: State Moves on Redistricting

The New Hampshire House's redistricting committee backs a map that favors Rep. Frank Guinta. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

The New Hampshire House of Representatives is finally beginning to move ahead with the state’s redistricting, according to a New Hampshire Union Leader report.

The state House committee that oversees redistricting recommended a plan that “effectively sided with U.S. Rep. Frank Guinta over U.S. Rep. Charlie Bass in their redistricting feud,” according to the Union Leader.

Full story

Utah: Romney Cuts One-Minute TV Ad for Hatch

Leading up to Thursday’s crucial Republican precinct caucuses, presidential candidate Mitt Romney has cut a second ad in as many weeks in support of Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch.

The former Massachusetts governor, a popular figure in the Utah, is featured in a new TV ad for Hatch, who hopes Romney’s endorsement can help him survive a competitive convention challenge. In the one-minute TV spot, Romney assures voters that they can count on Hatch to represent them for a seventh term.

Full story

Report: Alan Grayson Runs Red Light, Slams Into Bus

(Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Former Rep. Alan Grayson (D-Fla.) ran a red light this afternoon and slammed his Mercedes-Benz into a local bus, injuring two people, according to a local Florida television station report. Grayson was not hurt, NBC affiliate WESH reported, showing video footage of him talking with a police officer near a wrecked car.

“Officers say Grayson was at fault and he will be cited,” the anchorwoman said on the news report, noting he was on his way to a fundraiser. Full story

Washington: Jay Inslee Resigning to Focus on Gubernatorial Bid

(Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Updated 4:55 p.m. | Rep. Jay Inslee (D-Wash.) will announce today that he is resigning from the House to focus on his gubernatorial bid, three Democratic sources confirmed to Roll Call.

Inslee scheduled an afternoon news conference at his campaign headquarters in Seattle. His resignation will free him up to keep his attention on the campaign trail for a competitive race against state Attorney General Rob McKenna (R). Full story

For the GOP, It’s Back to the Future

(Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Given the protracted battle for the Republican presidential nomination and the regional, ideological and political underpinnings of the four remaining candidates, one might think the GOP is engaged in a pitched battle for the direction, future and soul of the party.

Except it’s not — at least not as a matter of policy and generational leadership.

Rep. Ron Paul (Texas) represents the only attempt of any candidate to drag the Republican Party in a distinctly different direction than that which has defined it at least since Ronald Reagan was elected president in 1980. But Paul is not, and never has been, considered a possible winner of the nomination. Of the three remaining candidates who are, or have been considered, viable at one time or another — former Speaker Newt Gingrich (Ga.), former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and former Sen. Rick Santorum (Pa.) — virtually nothing separates their plans for the country should they win their party’s nod and defeat President Barack Obama in November. On matters of domestic and fiscal policy — nothing; on matters of social policy — nothing; on matters of foreign policy and national defense, again, nothing. Full story

NRCC Ties Jim Matheson to Obama in New Ad (VIDEO)

The National Republican Congressional Committee is going on the air against Rep. Jim Matheson (Utah) for the second time in three months.

The new ad ties the Democrat to President Barack Obama, who won just 34 percent in Utah in 2008, one of his lowest-performing states in the country. With Obama back on the ballot this cycle, the NRCC is reminding voters that Matheson voted for the economic stimulus package in 2009.

Full story

Illinois: Eric Cantor Backs Adam Kinzinger Over Don Manzullo

House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (center) waded into a Member-vs.-Member primary fight today. (Chris Maddaloni/CQ Roll Call)

House Majority Leader Eric Cantor today threw his weight behind freshman Rep. Adam Kinzinger in his primary fight against fellow Republican Rep. Don Manzullo in Illinois’ 16th district.

The Virginia Republican endorsed Kinzinger in a joint statement with Rep. John Shimkus (R-Ill.). “Adam Kinzinger is hands down the candidate the conservative cause needs to win the primary for Congress on March 20th and he has our enthusiastic endorsement for a second term in Congress,” the two lawmakers argued.

Although the statement does not directly name Manzullo, who has served 10 terms in the House, Cantor and Shimkus take a glancing shot at their colleague. Full story

North Carolina: Hayden Rogers Had Menendez Brother for College Suitemate

(Courtesy the Daily Princetonian)

Remember the case of Lyle and Erik Menendez, the brothers who murdered their parents with shotguns in cold blood? Congressional candidate Hayden Rogers (D) does.

Rogers, retiring Rep. Heath Shuler’s former chief of staff who is running to succeed his ex-boss in the Tar Heel State, lived in the same suite as Lyle Menendez for a time at Princeton University. Rogers worked for Menendez at a restaurant he bought after receiving money from his parents’ life insurance policy. And Rogers was in the car with Menendez the day Menendez was arrested in 1990.

Rogers was never implicated, implicitly or explicitly, in any wrongdoing. He served as chief operating officer of Mr. Buffalo’s, the New Jersey establishment Menendez bought after killing his mother and father, but before he was arrested for the infamous crime. Full story

Nebraska: Democratic Field Clears for Bob Kerrey

To perhaps no one’s surprise, the Democratic field in Nebraska’s Senate race has cleared for former Sen. Bob Kerrey.

Chuck Hassebrook, who had been seeking the Democratic nomination before Kerrey decided to enter the race, ended his campaign today and gave the former Senator his endorsement.

I “came to the realization I would not succeed,” Hassebrook said at a press conference, according to the Lincoln Journal Star. Full story

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

Hawaii: Linda Lingle Explains Being Wooed to Run

(Douglas Graham/CQ Roll Call)

The story of how former Gov. Linda Lingle (R-Hawaii) decided to run for Senate in a year President Barack Obama tops the ballot dates back to the middle of her second term as governor.

That’s when National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman John Cornyn (Texas) began recruiting Lingle, she said Wednesday in an interview with Roll Call. Full story