Happening In Key Senate Races Today….

In Massachusetts, the Associated Press reports that Elizabeth Warren’s driver assaulted a Republican tracker.  A video posted online shows an encounter between a driver for Democratic U.S. Senate hopeful Elizabeth Warren and a campaign “tracker” for the Massachusetts Republican Party.  The 44-second video shows the driver confronting the Republican tracker after a Martha’s Vineyard weekend event.  The driver appears to knock the camera from the tracker’s hands and tells him to “get out of my face,” adding “you’re messing with the wrong people.”

• Meanwhile, Scott Brown has released a new ad reminding fisherman in the Bay State that he’ll fight to protect them from burdensome policies in Washington.  The third in a series of “Scott Brown From The Road” television ads takes Senator Brown to the iconic Massachusetts seaport of Gloucester to meet with local fishermen. Released today, the 30-second spot will air in the Boston, Springfield, Providence and Albany markets, as well as on statewide cable.

• Finally, the Associated Press reports that Scott Brown has more cash on hand than Professor Warren.  [Warren] ended the period with more than $12.3 million in her account. … Brown raised more than $2.5 million, ending the period with nearly $14.2 million in cash.

In Wisconsin, The Hill reports that GOP Chairman Reince Priebus said that Tommy Thompson is the perfect candidate for Senate and he will help the entire GOP ticket in the Badger State.  The party chief told reporters at the Republican National Convention that the former Wisconsin governor would be a boost to the GOP presidential ticket in the critical swing state. “I think Tommy actually helps the top of the ticket to the Wisconsin. It’s the opposite effect of what really happens,” he said. Priebus noted that “everybody loves Tommy. They like the Packers, they like Harley-Davidsons, they like Miller Light and they like Tommy Thomspson.”

• Meanwhile, the Daily Herald reports on the NRSC highlighting that Madison liberal Tammy Baldwin fundraised last night with fellow liberal Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky.  “We’ve all heard it – birds of a feather flock together. Well, that phrase fits particularly well today as Madison liberal Tammy Baldwin hits the suburbs of Chicago to raise money with her far-left pal, Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky,” Trover writes in an e-mail blast. Among the ties he goes on to point out, are that In 2011, Baldwin & Schakowsky, according to National Journal, were tied as the most liberal members of the House of Representatives and…Baldwin & Schakowsky also supported impeaching vice president Dick Cheney “Tonight’s fundraiser with Jan Schakowsky is yet another reminder of Tammy Baldwin’s far-left voting record and provides further insight as to who she will stand with if elected to the U.S. Senate…the same people she’s been standing with since being elected to Congress,” Trover says.

In Florida, the Associated Press reports that Connie Mack is up with a positive, pro-jobs commercial.  Rep. Connie Mack IV is about to air his first television ad in his effort to unseat Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson.  Mack’s campaign will begin airing the ad statewide Tuesday morning. It chooses a positive, patriotic theme designed to be a contrast to attack ads Nelson and outside groups who support him have been airing.

In Ohio, Politico reports that Treasurer Josh Mandel hammered career politicians – like Sherrod Brown – for bailing out Wall Street.  Ohio Senate candidate Josh Mandel is denouncing the federal bailout of the financial sector in a new ad, elevating the issue as he heads into the fall sprint of his campaign against Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown.  The spot, which was shared with POLITICO, doesn’t mention Brown by name. But Brown voted for the 2008 bank bailouts and the implicit contrast is clear. 

In Virginia, the Clarke Daily News reports that George Allen railed against the death tax.  A crowd of more than two hundred gathered in Clarke County Saturday evening as the local Republican Party Committee held a convention kick-off event and welcomed former Virginia Governor George Allen, who is seeking election to the U.S. Senate. … Allen also spoke on taxes and in particular his goal of repealing the so called “death tax” which has a profound impact on small farms in the Shenandoah Valley saying, “In my view death shouldn’t be taxable event. The sale of an asset should be a taxable event.”

In Michigan, the Detroit News reports on their latest poll showing Pete Hoekstra leading liberal Debbie Stabenow.  The same poll also has Michigan Senate Republican nominee Pete Hoekstra leading Democratic incumbent Debbie Stabenow, 45-44.

• Meanwhile, the Washington Examiner reports that Real Clear Politics has moved the Michigan Presidential and Senate race to “tossup.” President Obama has scaled back his campaigning and spending in Michigan, where he is confident of victory in the fall, but Real Clear Politics’ analysis indicates that he may be overconfident. RCP regards the state as a toss-up for both the presidential and U.S. Senate elections this year. The RCP average of the polls shows Obama clinging to a two-point lead over Republican rival Mitt Romney. Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., has a 4.8 point lead over former Rep. Pete Hoekstra, R-Mich., in the Senate race.

In Nebraska, the York Times reports that unlike New York liberal Bob Kerrey, Deb Fischer believes in a smaller and more efficient federal government.  Fischer is a self-admitted smaller government candidate, focusing on the core fundamentals of government. Kerrrey, on the other hand, is one quick to turn to federal programs on a wide range of issues.  Fischer wants lower taxes, Kerrry wants higher taxes. … Kerrey is smart. Fischer is tough. Kerrrey seems stuck in the 90s, referencing the past many times during the debate, while Fischer seems firmly positioned in the present.

• Meanwhile, the Omaha World-Herald reports Deb Fischer will deliver an address at the GOP Convention that is centered around doing things the Nebraska way.  Nebraska State Sen. Deb Fischer will have her introduction to the national political stage — literally — today when she addresses the Republican National Convention. … She said she would talk about “the success we’ve had in Nebraska with our unemployment and economy, and that it can also happen for the country as a whole.  “That’s my basic message: Taking the Nebraska way to Washington.”

• Finally, Politico writes that Deb Fischer is one of the 5 rising stars in the Republican Party.  Once seen as a long shot in Nebraska’s primary, rancher and state senator Deb Fischer is now seen as the best chance for Republicans to take the seat being vacated by Democratic Sen. Ben Nelson. … She’s still the favorite in the general election in which she’ll face former Sen. Bob Kerrey. She has said she’s running a “Nebraska-focused” campaign and has sought to paint Kerrey as an out-of-touch-washed-up politician.

In Texas, NRSC Chairman John Cornyn reminded his Texas GOP delegates that we need to take back the Senate, so Mitt Romney can implement his pro-jobs agenda.  As the Dallas Morning News reports:  Seeking a majority: Cornyn, head of the party’s Senate campaign committee, put in a plug for his bid to elect more Republican U.S. senators, saying control of the chamber is “absolutely critical” to Romney’s success. “When Governor Romney is the next president of the U.S., he doesn’t want to have to deal with Harry Reid as majority leader,” Cornyn said, referring to the Nevada Democrat.

• Meanwhile, Politico reports that Ted Cruz is a rising star and has been given a prime speaking slot at the Convention.  Former solicitor general Ted Cruz is a tea party favorite from Texas who delivered a resounding defeat to establishment candidate Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst in late July and his star hasn’t stopped rising since.  Educated at Princeton, the Cuban-American Cruz is making his mark all over the convention. He spoke at the Faith and Freedom Coalition rally to kick off the week and fire up the conservative base and national Republicans have given him a prime speaking slot on the floor Tuesday night.

In Arizona, American Spectator reports that Jeff Flake has spent his entire career trying to rid Washington of their wasteful spending habits.  Rep. Jeff Flake, the fiscal hawk from Arizona, has a U.S. Senate seat in his sights. … In Flake, Arizona Republicans know what they’re getting. Throughout his decade-long tenure, he has crusaded against congressionally directed spending, or earmarks — and did so even back when such a principled approach was unpopular and potentially damaging. After the GOP gained control of the House in the 2010 midterm elections, Flake was elevated to the House Appropriations Committee, a perch he has used to do what he does best: attack wasteful federal spending.
In Nevada, a local voter in Washoe County tells the Reno Gazette-Journal that he hopes Dean Heller will stop the Democrats from advancing their tax raising, job-killing agenda.  Talking about raising taxes and squelching new jobs is a huge step in the wrong direction. I hope Sen. Heller will do everything he can to help get our economy back on track by supporting companies — energy companies, as well as others — that have the capability of creating jobs.

In Connecticut, National Journal’s Hotline reports that a Quinnipiac Poll has Linda McMahon leading absentee Congressman Chris Murphy.  Linda McMahon has a slight lead in the race to replace Sen. Joe Lieberman, ID-Conn., a stark reversal from her losing Senate bid in 2010, according to a new poll released early Tuesday.  The poll, conducted by Quinnipiac University, shows McMahon, the GOP’s Senate nominee for the second time in as many election cycles, leading Rep. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., 49 percent to 46 percent. Four percent of likely voters are undecided.

• Meanwhile, the Connecticut GOP Chairman tells the Waterville Republican American that McMahon is running a solid campaign against Murphy.  State Republican Party Chairman Jerry Labriola said he’s making the argument to Republican officials at the national convention in Florida that Connecticut could be a possible win for presidential candidate Mitt Romney.  Labriola told The Associated Press Monday that he’s been busy pointing out how President Barack Obama’s popularity in this Democratic-leaning state has waned and Republican U.S. Senate candidate Linda McMahon is running a strong campaign against Democratic Rep. Chris Murphy.

In New Jersey, Joe Kyrillos’ first ad tells voters that he’s running to fix our economy and get the Garden State working once again.  As the Newark Star-Ledger reports:  United States Senate hopeful Joe Kyrillos unveiled his first television advertisement this morning that is aimed at introducing voters to the relatively unknown politician. … The ad includes several images of Kyrillos and his family. It starts out with Kyrillos stating, “I’m Joe Kyrillos. I’m running for the United States Senate and let me tell you why.”  He then tries to brandish his moderate credentials, saying that he believes America needs less finger pointing and more leadership to help fix the economy.  “I believe it’s time to get this right for our children, grandchildren and America’s future,” he says.