National Journal Online

Governors Race Rankings

Posted: Tuesday, September 21, 2010 - 12:00am

House Race Rankings

Posted: Tuesday, September 21, 2010 - 12:00am

For 'Walmart Moms,' Nothing Abstract About Financial Pain

From time to time, someone comes up with a catchy term for some subgroup of swing voters. President Nixon targeted the Silent Majority. Later there were Reagan Democrats. More recently, Soccer Moms became a household term.Some of the terms were less meaningful. One pollster pushed NASCAR Dads.

Posted: Tuesday, September 21, 2010 - 12:00am

Deadly Milestone In Afghanistan Comes Amid Period Of Reassessment

A helicopter crash in southern Afghanistan earlier this morning killed nine NATO troops, making 2010 the deadliest year of the Afghan war and highlighting the difficult strategic choices confronting the Obama administration as it seeks a way forward there.With the crash, the Western death toll in

Posted: Tuesday, September 21, 2010 - 12:00am

Summers Announces Departure

It wasn't exactly a shocker. Lawrence Summers , a key architect of President Obama 's economic policies and a former secretary of the Treasury, announced today that he will leave his position as director of the president's National Economic Council by the end of the year and return to Harvard Uni

Posted: Tuesday, September 21, 2010 - 12:00am

DCCC Outraises NRCC In August

The DCCC outraised the NRCC in August, boosting the Democrats' efforts at retaining the House this fall.

The DCCC is reporting having pulled in $8.32M in August, according to numbers provided to Hotline On Call. The NRCC will report $6.64M.

Those numbers are almost an exact reversal of how the committees performed in July. That month, the NRCC outraised the DCCC by a $8.56M to $6.22M margin.

The DCCC boasts a strong cash on hand advantage over the NRCC as it heads into the final stretch of the campaign. It has $39M in his bank account to the NRCC's $25.6M.

Posted: Monday, September 20, 2010 - 5:35pm

DCCC Ad Plans Show Internal Disagreement

The DCCC's separate political wings are engaged in their first argument over one of their vulnerable candidates as the independent expenditure division begins pulling back funding while the coordinated division is pouring more money into the race.

Posted: Monday, September 20, 2010 - 5:21pm

Tech and Telecom Personnel Changes

Here is a roundup of some key personnel changes that took place in the tech and telecom space recently: Verizon Communications tapped Lowell McAdam to become president and chief operating officer. Previously, McAdam served as CEO of Verizon wireless. He will report directly to Verizon CEO Ivan Seidenberg. More at WaPo Dave Grimaldi will serve as chief of staff and media legal advisor to FCC Commissioner Mignon Clyburn. Grimaldi succeeds acting chief of staff Angela Kronenberg who will continue as wireline legal advisor to Clyburn.

Posted: Monday, September 20, 2010 - 4:16pm

In Many Districts, NRCC Spending Follows Outside Groups

If this past weekend is an indication, a trend appears to be forming on the right in IE spending. In at least 10 districts, the NRCC has followed major spending by right-leaning third party group.

Now, it is illegal for the NRCC to coordinate with any of these groups, and we're not suggesting that they are. However, the trend does indicate the NRCC may be capitalizing on districts where conservative groups have already been knocking incumbent Democrats.

Posted: Monday, September 20, 2010 - 3:38pm

DSCC Tops NRSC In August Fundraising

The DSCC had another strong month fundraising in August, outraising its GOP counterpart by more than $1M.

The DSCC will reporting hauling in $7.42M for August, according to numbers provided to Hotline On Call. The NRSC is reporting $6.05M. Those numbers represent the sixth time in 7 months that the DSCC has outraised the NRSC.

"Democratic activism continues to grow," said Deirdre Murphy, the DSCC's press secretary. "The committee and Democratic Senate candidates are in strong positions to wage competitive races in our targeted races."

Posted: Monday, September 20, 2010 - 3:04pm