Nebraska: Crossroads Hits Bob Kerrey in New Radio Ads

The conservative group American Crossroads has begun an $80,000 radio ad buy against former Sen. Bob Kerrey (D) on Nebraska radio stations.

The ad hits on persistent themes Republicans have been using in their case against Kerrey. Those include Kerrey’s New York City residence, his support for health care reform, tying him to retiring Sen. Ben Nelson (D) and accusations of “backroom deals” with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) to entice Kerrey to run for Senate.

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Michigan: Report Says Democrats Wooing Ex-Rep. Joe Schwarz

Ex-Rep. Joe Schwarz (right), seen here at freshman orientation in 2004, is eyeing a comeback bid in Michigan as a Democrat. (Scott J. Ferrell/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

House Democrats are recruiting former Rep. Joe Schwarz, who served in Congress as a Republican, to challenge Rep. Tim Walberg (R-Mich.), according to a local report.

MIRS, a Michigan political news service, confirmed Schwarz talked with the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee last week about the race. Schwarz, a frequent critic of the GOP’s conservative wing, told MIRS that “competition would be good” for Walberg.

Schwarz’s Democratic candidacy would make the district competitive for the DCCC, which has yet to find a recruit to challenge Walberg. And if Schwarz decides to run, his bid would mark the third time he’s faced Walberg in the 7th district. Full story

Pennsylvania: Mark Critz and Jason Altmire Launch TV Ads

Pennsylvania Reps. Jason Altmire and Mark Critz will go on the air this week with their first TV ads ahead of the April 24 Democratic primary.

The early ad campaigns signal that the two are running an aggressive race against each other in this southwestern Pennsylvania district. The Keystone State lost a House seat this cycle due to lagging population growth, and Republican mapmakers moved the two Democrats into the same district, forcing them to face off next month.

Both campaigns will air their spots on broadcast television in Pittsburgh and additional, smaller markets for a total buy of about $150,000 each, according to PoliticsPA, which first broke the news. See the ads after the jump. Full story

EMILY’s List Backs Four More House Candidates

EMILY’s List released the names of four House candidates who have received its “On the List” designation for the 2012 cycle.

The group, which supports Democratic pro-abortion-rights female candidates, announced today that it is backing Jessica Ehrlich, who running in the Democratic primary to challenge Rep. Bill Young (R-Fla.); Joyce Healy-Abrams, who is challenging Rep. Bob Gibbs (R-Ohio); attorney Shelley Adler, who is hoping to reclaim her late husband’s seat from Rep. Jon Runyan (R-N.J.) and Assemblywoman Julia Brownley, who is one of several Democrats running in the California’s 26th district open-seat race.

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Illinois: New Jesse Jackson Jr. Poll Shows Huge Primary Lead

(Scott J. Ferrell/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

CHICAGO — With one week to go before the Democratic primary, Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. released a poll that showed him with a massive 36-point lead over former Rep. Debbie Halvorson.

Jackson led Halvorson 59 percent to 23 percent, according to the internal poll given to Roll Call by one of the Illinois Congressman’s top campaign aides.

The two Democrats are squaring off in the March 20 primary in the redrawn 2nd district, which spans from southern Chicago to rural Kankakee County. The district is heavily Democratic, and the winner of the primary will serve in the next Congress in all likelihood. Full story

New York: Judge Issues New — and Potentially Final — Congressional Lines

GOP Rep. Bob Turner is among the Members threatened under the proposed map. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Updated 12:40 a.m. | A New York federal judge released a tweaked redistricting map late Monday night that closely resembled her earlier plan.

The new map, which could represent the final Empire State lines, imperils Reps. Kathy Hochul (D), Chris Gibson (R) and Bob Turner (R). It also leaves Rep. Gary Ackerman (D) with a tough election slog. Full story

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.

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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.

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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