Kentucky: Fox New Sunday will host a Senate debate in the Bluegrass State next week:
Jack Conway, Kentucky’s attorney general and the Democratic candidate for Senate, and Rand Paul, the Republican nominee and son of Representative Ron Paul, Republican of Texas, have agreed to a live debate on “Fox News Sunday” on Oct. 3 at 9 a.m. (Eastern time). Chris Wallace will be the moderator. There will be no live studio audience, and Mr. Wallace will be the only one asking questions. Fox 41, a co-sponsor, will host the debate at its studio in Louisville.
Missouri: A new poll conducted for the DSCC finds Robin Carnahan (D) trailing Rep. Roy Blunt (R) by just 4 points, 41-45. Meanwhile, a Rasmussen poll released today has Blunt leading by 8 points, 52-44. The DSCC has been spending heavily in the race, seeking to portray him as an out-of-touch Washington insider with ads like this one:
Democrats see this race as their best chance for a pickup in the Senate this year. Carnahan and Blunt are running to succeed Republican Sen. Kit Bond, who is retiring.
Washington: Commonsense Ten, a Democratic PAC, has a new ad out attacking Dino Rossi as a scandal-plangued Wall Street junkie. The Republican appears to have fallen behind Sen. Patty Murray of late, with recent polling showing Murray fortifying her lead.
Democrats sense this is a race they can — and must — win to hold the Senate. Joe Biden and Michelle Obama will visit the state in October to campaign and fundraise for Murray.
West Virginia: The NRSC is launching a $1 million ad campaign today in an effort to pull off the upset against Gov. Joe Manchin (D) in a race that appears surprisingly competitive. A recent PPP poll shows Republican John Raese with a slight lead, 46-43. Robert Byrd’s old seat would be a crucial win for the GOP if it hopes to take the Senate.
The commercial goes directly at Gov. Joe Manchin (D) — arguing that the governor “supports Barack Obama’s big government agenda” on big ticket items like the economic stimulus package and the health care law.
“Big spending, more government and less freedom…we don’t want a rubber stamp for Obama,” says the ad’s narrator. “We can’t afford Joe Manchin in Washington.”
The ad will cost the NRSC roughly $1.2 million and will run statewide — including in the pricey Washington, D.C. media market — for two weeks, according to sources familiar with the buy.
Here’s the ad:
Your move, DSCC.