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In what is becoming a familiar refrain for Dems, Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) could be facing a tough re-election fight, according to a new poll released today by a GOP survey firm. The poll, conducted by OR-based Moore Information (R), shows Murray trailing two-time GOV nominee Dino Rossi (R) in a hypothetical matchup. Rossi, Moore Information pollsters Bob Moore and Hans Kaiser note, is the state's best-known GOPer, though he has not been mentioned as a potential candidate against Murray. Rossi has lost two close elections to Gov. Chris Gregiore (D); he notably declined to run in '06 against Sen....

Former U.S. Sen. Charles McC. Mathias, a liberal Republican from Maryland who championed civil rights and protection of the Chesapeake Bay during his 26 years in Washington, has died. He was 87. Mathias, who lived in Chevy Chase, died Monday from complications of Parkinson's disease, said his sons Charles and Robert. Mathias' career spanned the turbulent years of the Vietnam War and the civil rights movement, and he often found himself at odds with his party on those and other issues. He was elected to the House of Representatives in 1960 from a western Maryland district and quickly gained a...

FDL/SurveyUSA, 1/16-1/18, 600 likely voters, margin of sampling error ± 4.1% If there were an election for US House of Representatives today, and the only two candidates on the ballot were Democrat Baron Hill and Republican Mike Sodrel, who would you vote for? 41% Baron Hill (D) 49% Mike Sodrel (R) 10% Undecided 2010 will be the fifth straight time Democratic Congressman Baron Hill has gone head-to-head with Republican former Congressman Mike Sodrel for the opportunity of representing Indiana’s 9th congressional district. The seat, in the southeast of the state, has changed hands twice. Hill beat Sodrel in 2002 during...

Representative Tim Bishop (NY-01) holds a very small lead against potential Republican challenger Randy Altschuler, 47% to 45% in a new SurveyUSA poll sponsored by Firedoglake. Bishop’s is one of the suburban districts that Democrats will struggle to hold in 2010, and securing them will be key to retaining a Democratic majority in Congress. Altschuler is a well-funded challenger with more than $776,000 in his campaign fund and the ability to self-finance. He has already started running campaign ads in the district. Looking deeper into the numbers, Altshuler’s support might be slightly stronger than the poll numbers indicate. His support...

FDL/SurveyUSA, 1/12-1/14, 600 likely voters, Margin of Sampling error ± 4.1% If there were an election for US House of Representatives today, and the only two candidates on the ballot were Democrat Steve Driehaus and Republican Steve Chabot, who would you vote for? Steve Driehaus (D) 39% Steve Chabot (R ) 56% Undecided 5% A new SurveyUSA poll sponsored by Firedoglake shows incumbent Democrat Steve Driehaus substantially behind former Republican Congressman Steve Chabot in Ohio’s 1st congressional district. If the election were held today, Chabot would beat Driehaus in a head-to-head match up, 56% to 39%. The 2010 election will...

A source tells Political Wire that Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter (D) is ending his re-election campaign. A fundraiser scheduled for tonight was canceled and all campaign staff was sent home in the middle of the day. The decision does not appear to be fundraising related which has reportedly gone better than expected. Emails to campaign staff have not been answered. Update: Marc Ambinder also reports Ritter is dropping bid.

Well, we got the names. Now there’s no secret who was willing to step out for Pelosicare. I picked out 47 Democrats from the “yes” column that could end up in serious trouble next year. So let’s name some names, donate to their opponents, and turn them out! Michael Arcuri – Nearly got beat by Hanna in 08. Melissa Bean – Knocked off Phil Crane in 04, but still sits in a historically Republican district. Marion Berry – Already targeted by the NRCC, and doesn’t seem to realize that AR wasn’t for O. Tim Bishop – Whined about the townhall...

Rep. Mike Castle (R-Del.) said Thursday that he’s leaning more toward running for Senate rather than another term in the House, if he decides to run for Congress again in 2010. In an interview on Capitol Hill, Castle also acknowledged that several GOP Senators, including John McCain (Ariz.), have been pushing him in recent weeks to make the move to the other side of Capitol Hill. He said a final decision on his 2010 plans would likely have to come by early summer “at the latest.” Castle’s comments come a week after former Delaware Lt. Gov. John Carney (D) filed...

I recently said something at a gathering of some of my closest friends that made them look at me like I just clubbed a baby fur seal to death with the lifeless body of a cute little puppy that I had just strangled to death with my swastika arm band. What could be so downright unnerving? Did I say I drank human blood? Did I say I was attracted to little children and poultry? Did I say I wanted to desecrate the local house of worship, non-denominational of course, by throwing feces at it and blaming those inside for all...

A new Public Policy Polling survey (3/20-22; 600 registered AR voters) shows some surprising vulnerability for so-called moderate Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D). Against former US Attorney Tim Griffin (R), she leads only 46-37%. Paired with state Sen. Gilbert Baker (R), her advantage is a similar: 48-37%. The Senator’s job approval number is a lackluster 45:40.

Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter (D) announced Monday that she will not run for US Senator in 2010. Congressman Paul Hodes (D) previously entered the race to succeed retiring US Senator Judd Gregg (R). Hodes now looks unlikely to face serious opposition for the Democratic nomination. Former US Senator John Sununu is considering running on the GOP side, and would be viewed as the strongest Republican candidate. Several other Republicans -- including former Congressman Charlie Bass and former Governor Steve Merrill -- are also looking at the race.

He voted for the stimulus package. He thinks the governor was a little "hypocritical" in the Republican response to President Barack Obama's address to the nation. And, he has no plans to run against U.S. Sen. David Vitter in the next Congressional election.

NEW POLL NUMBERS IN U.S. SENATE RACE SHOW "TIED BALL GAME" **EXCLUSIVE** 10/30/2008 01:04 PM THE DEAD PELICAN HAS OBTAINED THE FOLLOWING DETAILS ABOUT THE U.S. SENATE RACE! POLLSTER: ONMESSAGE, INC. METHODOLOGY: 900 STATEWIDE LIKELY VOTERS; IF THE ELECTION FOR U.S. SENATE WERE HELD TODAY AND THE CANDIDATES WERE MARY LANDRIEU, THE DEMOCRAT AND JOHN KENNEDY, THE REPUBLICAN FOR WHOM WOULD YOU VOTE? LANDRIEU 45, KENNEDY 44, UNDECIDED/OTHER 11 DEVELOPING...

A Zogby poll shows Republican John Kennedy has taken the lead in the U.S. Senate race against Democrat Mary Landrieu. According to the Zogby International website, "Republican John Kennedy is among the GOP's best hopes to oust a Democratic incumbent. He leads Democrat Sen. Mary Landrieu, 47%-41%." The poll's margin of error is less than 5%. "I wouldn't be surprised if the lead changes a bunch of times," says University of Louisiana Political Scientist Pearson Cross. Pollster John Zogby says, "In Louisiana, Sen. Mary Landrieu faces a strong conservative challenger in John Kennedy. The state was profoundly shaken by Hurricane...

Polls have closed in Louisiana. The big interest is in the sixth congressional district, where Democrats think they can snatch an open seat.

In a surprise move, Lieutenant Governor Sean Parnell announced Friday at the State GOP Convention that he will challenge embattled Congressman Don Young in the Republican primary. Young -- an 18-term incumbent -- is reportedly the target of a federal corruption investigation. Young's campaign committee has already spent over $800,000 on legal fees related to the investigation. Independent polling has shown Young trailing former State House Minority Leader Ethan Berkowitz (D) in general election matchups. "For too long, we have expected too little from our elected officials. It is time for change," said Parnell. As Parnell is a close ally...

Congressman Richard Baker (R) announced Tuesday that he will resign his seat "no later than February 6" to become the chief lobbyist in DC for the $1.8 trillion hedge fund industry. Baker's resignation will prompt yet another special election. Baker was first elected to Congress in 1986, and had been openly pondering retirement for months. A special election could be set for as soon as March 8 -- the same day of the special election to fill the US House seat left vacant by the election of Bobby Jindal (R) as Governor. State Representative Don Cazayoux (D) was already an...

According to Survey USA incumbent Democrat Mary Landrieu and John Kennedy are in a close battle for US Senate. Landrieu is scoring 46%, Kennedy is tallying 42%, within the survey's 3.9% margin of sampling error. Mary Landrieu has always been involved in close races as she was behind Susan Terrell with only days to spare in their last race almost six years ago. However, John Kennedy, the state Treasurer, who is now Republican, has the benefit of a newly-elected Republican Governor. Interestingly, according to a SurveyUSA poll conducted exclusively for Roll Call, Kennedy leads by 12 among men; Landrieu leads...

I can't link to Ap.org, so I'll break the news: Rep. Jim McCrery told associates Friday he intends to retire rather than seek re-election in 2008, giving us another open seat to worry about.

US Senator Mel Martinez (R) may draw an unexpected challenge for re-nomination when his seat comes up in 2010, possibly from ambitious State House Speaker Marco Rubio (R). Some Florida Republicans are upset with Martinez over his immigration position, others in the agricultural community are unhappy about his support for CAFTA (Central American Free Trade Agreement), and party activists grumble about his brief, hands-off RNC Chairmanship. Considered a fairly poor campaigner with weak name ID and no discernable association with any particular issue, Martinez could be vulnerable to a challenge from the right. Others who know Martinez -- who was...