Claire McCaskill Ranked Top Porker
Citizens Against Government Waste announced its list of the six worst "porkers" of last year, and Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) is on it. From The Hill:
This inclusion of McCaskill, who is in a tough reelection fight, is noteworthy because she has been a top crusader against earmarks. The group put her on the list for advocating that the troubled postal service start a marketing campaign to promote letter writing, an idea the group deems a waste of money.
Also on the conservative group's list are Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) and House Armed Services Committee Chairman Buck McKeon (R-Calif.).
Speculation Swirls In Nebraska
Neither Gov. Dave Heineman (R) nor former Gov. Bob Kerrey (D) have said definitively whether they will run for the U.S. Senate seat in Nebraska being vacated by retiring Sen. Ben Nelson (D). But Heineman sounds pretty sure he's not interested. Kerrey said he would announce his decision this week.
Ed Case Is Still At It
Former Rep. Ed Case (D) continues to duke it out with Rep. Mazie Hirono (D) for the Democratic nomination in Hawaii's Senate race. Case has been campaigning as the "outsider" counter to Hirono's "Washington insider." Case has released a video version of his first TV ad. Watch below:
Hawaii's Senate race is capturing national attention this year, as President Barack Obama's home state could actually swing for the GOP. The state's popular Republican governor, Linda Lingle, is making a bid for the U.S. Senate seat from the Aloha state.
Lingle reached across the aisle recently and praised president Obama's tourism initiative. "If I am elected, I would be pleased to support the president's tourism focused policies," she said, according to the Hawaii Reporter.
Allen West Raises $1.75 Million
Rep. Allen West (R-Fl.) raked in an impressive $1.75 million in the fourth quarter, though that number is down from the nearly $2 million sum he raised in quarter three.
Tammy Baldwin Raises $1 Million
Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D), running for the open Senate seat in Wisconsin, raised $1.1 million in the fourth quarter. Baldwin thanked her 16,000 donors via Facebook. "These resources will be critical in responding to the false, negative right-wing attacks sure to come our way," she wrote.
On the Republican side, the primary field is still split between Gov. Tommy Thompson and his Tea Party-backed opponents, Rep. Mark Neumann and state Assembly Speaker Jeff Fitzgerald. Wisconsin's Senate race is considered a tossup and expected to be hotly contested.
Both Sides Raise Over $1 Million In Oregon Special
Rob Cornilles (R) and Suzanne Bonamici (D) have reported their fundraising totals for the fourth quarter, and both candidates raked in more than $1 million in their bids for the open seat in Oregon's 1st District.
The special election will be held Jan. 31.
Chris Shays' Fundraising Fail
Rep. Chris Shays (R-Conn.) officially announced his bid for U.S. Senate, while falling way short of his fourth quarter fundraising goal of $1 million. Shays raised $422,145.
The headline of this piece has been updated to emphasize that McCaskill is one of several nominees on the Citizens Against Government Waste list.