Today’s Key Senate Races…

Driving The Discussion….

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell tells USA Today that he believes Republicans can take control of the U.S. Senate.  McConnell said he is optimistic about the party’s chances in states such as Nebraska, North Dakota, Virginia, Florida, Ohio, New Mexico and Wisconsin — as well as “deep-blue” Hawaii, where President Obama was born. … “Races have yet to be won,” McConnell told USA TODAY and Gannett, blaming the “dysfunctional Senate” on Democrats who are in charge. “The Senate Democratic majority is an embarrassment and should be replaced.”  He also said President Obama deserves some of the blame for the inability of Congress to pass a budget and spending bills – two items that lawmakers are charged with doing every year.

Meanwhile, NRSC Chairman John Cornyn penned an op-ed for the Washington Times where he says the GOP is on offense in states Democrats won in 2006.  As our nation enters the final two months of another spirited election, Republican Senate candidates are on offense in states Democrats won in 2006. A record of broken promises coupled with an unprecedented attempt to push through an extreme liberal agenda has put Democrats in the unenviable position of being forced to play defense and facing daunting odds in areas where just a few short years ago they cruised to victory.  Democrats including Jon Tester of Montana, Bill Nelson of Florida and Sherrod Brown of Ohio find themselves on defense because they promised to be independent voices for their constituents while committing to support a balanced approach to managing our country’s finances.

Happening In Key States Today….

In Massachusetts, WFB-TV in Boston reports that Elizabeth Warren’s driver refused to discuss why he assaulted a GOP tracker in Martha’s Vineyard. 

In Florida, Connie Mack tells the Daily Caller that after 40 years in office, liberal Democrat Bill Nelson doesn’t have a vision for America.  Florida Senate hopeful and Congressman Connie Mack IV said Wednesday that the negative ads his Democratic opponent, Sen. Bill Nelson, is running against him are insulting to Florida voters and show an inability to talk about real issues. … “I think people are interested in having a conversation about the future of America and what the hopes and dreams are for their children — not running ads that, frankly, I think dismiss the Florida voters. … He’s a forty year career politician and that’s the best he can do? That’s sad,” Mack said.

• Meanwhile, the Sarasota Herald-Tribune reports that the GOP’s Convention could help Connie Mack defeat Nelson and his failed policies.  Having the Republican National Convention in his home state could be a boost to GOP U.S. Senate hopeful Rep. Connie Mack, who is still struggling to convince  leaders in his own party that he can beat Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson. … After easily winning the Republican primary, Mack is starting to pick up momentum. The Fort Myers congressman is in position to leave Tampa this week with a solid fundraising haul and, depending on his performance in a prime speaking slot tonight, buzz among grass-roots activists.

• Finally, the Tampa Tribune reports that Connie Mack reiterated that he opposes President Obama and Senator Nelson’s job-killing regulations.  U.S. Rep. Connie Mack IV, his wife, U.S. Rep. Mary Bono Mack, and Florida Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater came out swinging Tuesday against government regulation and overspending. … They hurled much of their scorn at financial regulations, such as the Dodd-Frank act. Community banks can’t make loans because new regulations restrict the amount of capital they can lend, said Connie Mack, R-Fort Myers, who is running for U.S. Senate. Instead, they sit on the sidelines, he said.

In Arizona, Tucson Weekly reports that Jeff Flake unveiled a new web video reminding voters that Richard “Rubberstamp” Carmona was personally recruited by President Barack Obama.  Republican Senate candidate Jeff Flake is out this morning with a new web video linking Democratic opponent to President Barack Obama.

In Virginia, the News Virginia reports that George Allen toured a food facility plant in Stuarts Draft.  Republican U.S. Senate candidate George Allen has said jobs are the number one issue in his race against Democrat Tim Kaine, and on Wednesday, Allen visited an Augusta County manufacturer that is adding jobs.  Allen spent an hour touring the McKee Foods facility in Stuarts Draft, and held a town hall meeting with McKee employees.

In Ohio, WHIZ-TV in Zanesville reports that Josh Mandel visited the Y-Bridge City and reiterated that he’ll go to Washington to fight for the people.  The race for the United States Senate made a stop in the Y-Bridge City Wednesday. … Mandel blames partisan politics for the gridlock in congress and said if elected he will not be pushed around.  “I’ll look that political boss in the eye, I’ll look that lobbyist in the eye and tell them, I don’t work for them,” said Mandel.  “My boss is the 11.5 million people in the state of Ohio.  No one in Washington is going to push me around, because I’ve been through tougher stuff than this.”

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• Meanwhile, WTAP News reports that Mandel also brought his pro-jobs campaign to Marietta.  Mandel says with local companies, like Caron, he believes Marietta and the entire county can lead economic recovery for Ohio and the entire country.  “A lot of politicians in Washington think the federal government is the answer, I happen to think that Washington is the problem. As a United State Senator I’m going to get Washington out of the way so that blue collar workers, small business owners, manufacturers can release their own ingenuity, intelligence, hard work to create and grow jobs here throughout the Marietta area,” says Treasurer Mandel.

In Wisconsin, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports that Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen is echoing how Tommy Thompson is going to help Republicans up and down the ticket in the Badger State.  “I think probably the single most important thing that helps Romney in Wisconsin is Tommy Thompson,” said Van Hollen, referring to the former governor running for U.S. Senate. “You talk about substance, someone who can show you when he was in office he got things done, someone who is a byword in Wisconsin. He will bring a lot of voters to Republicans who otherwise wouldn’t be there. And it doesn’t take too many of them to stay over there in the presidential race to make a difference.”

In Indiana, the Brazil Times reports that Richard Mourdock met with the Clay County Chamber of Commerce to discuss ways to get America’s economy moving.  Mourdock said the “Indiana Way” was the clear way to get out of the economic doldrums facing the nation. Mourdock then discussed items he believed could help the nation claw its way out of the economic hardship, stressing taking the “Indiana Way” to Washington, D.C., creating long term, consistent policy, reducing regulation on business and repealing the Affordable Health Care Act. He said the federal government must learn to live “within its means.” In addition, he said small business owners are unaware of what their tax rates will be Jan. 1, 2013. Because of this, business owners, he said, are unlikely to invest. “These uncertainties are the heart of why we are seeing no economic recovery,” he said. He added repealing the Affordable Health Care Act, commonly referred to as “ObamaCare,” is vital, suggesting it must be replaced with “job friendly, market oriented reforms,” which would reduce the cost of health care while giving people more choices.

In Michigan, the Midland Daily News reports that Pete Hoekstra has launched a “We Did Build This Tour” and is traveling the state meeting with small business owners.  Visiting small businesses as he launched the “We Did Build This Tour,” Hoekstra spent an hour listening as Computers to Go owner John Levy shared concerns about small business…”The lifeblood of the economy is these small and medium size businesses and we’ve made it so hard and so expensive for these folks, in many ways, to realize their dreams,” he said. “There are barriers, that government, at all levels, puts in place to keep people from being successful. (Gov. Rick Snyder) and I have talked about how do we streamline the process between the feds and the state?” To help small businesses, Hoekstra would like to ease banking rules and regulations… Hoekstra believes that the regulations are affecting small, local banks.

In Nevada, Senator Dean Heller continued his rural tour by visiting Yerington, Fallon and Fernley.  Dean Heller is moving across Nevada this week, and today he stopped in Yerington, Fallon and Fernley.  All along the campaign trail, Dean Heller has met Nevadans who want to hear actual solutions to Nevada’s struggling economy, which is why he has consistently focused on the issues that matter most – creating jobs, keeping families in their homes and the pressing need to stop out-of-control spending in Washington.

In Nebraska, KTIV-TV in Sioux City reports that Republican State Senator Deb Fischer promises that if elected, she’ll change Washington.  Nebraska U.S. Senate candidate Deb Fischer has introduced herself to convention-goers, at the RNC in Tampa, Florida.  The state senator described herself as “not the usual” politician … a wife, mother and a rancher. Fischer said becoming a U.S. Senator was never an ambition of hers. But, Fischer says, the last four years have changed her mind. Deb Fischer, (R) U.S. Senate Candidate says, “I’ve become very dismayed with the record spending, the record debt, and the record unemployment. The Obama administration has been out of touch with the American people. And, they’ve driven the country towards the edge of a fiscal cliff.”

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KTIV News 4 Sioux City IA: News, Weather and Sports

• Meanwhile, Fischer tells Don Walton at the Lincoln Journal-Star that she’ll debate Bob Kerrey and his liberal ideas two more times in September.  Republican Senate nominee Deb Fischer said Wednesday she’d like to schedule two more debates with former Democratic Sen. Bob Kerrey in September and call it good.  “There’s early voting in Nebraska,” she said during a telephone interview. “It’s important for voters to be informed by October when it begins.”

In Hawaii, Hawaii News reports that physicians in the Aloha State are backing former Governor Linda Lingle.  The Political Action Committee of the Hawai`i Medical Association has endorsed former Governor Linda Lingle’s campaign for the U.S. Senate.  HMA is a local organization representing over 1,100 physicians, resident physicians, and medical students in the state of Hawaii.  It is dedicated to serving physicians, their patients, and the community through representation, advocacy, and public service.  HAMPAC representative Dr. Don Parsa said in announcing the groups endorsement of Lingle “she is clearly committed to advancing affordable, quality health care for all the people of Hawai`i and the nation.

In Connecticut, the Connecticut Post reports that absentee Congressman Chris Murphy’s lackadaisical campaign could force National Democrats to ship money to the Nutmeg State.  Summer’s over for U.S. Rep. Chris Murphy and Connecticut Democrats. Their blue-state dreams got a red-state wake-up call Tuesday.  As Labor Day looms and with it the traditional election stretch drive, the Quinnipiac University Poll shows Republican Linda McMahon has made huge inroads among women and independent voters — once her vulnerability — and pulled ahead of the third-term congressman in the race for the U.S. Senate. … And what was already a contentious race may become even more so, as Democrats could be forced to pour money into Murphy’s campaign to help him compete with McMahon’s personal fortune.  The poll showed McMahon with a 49-to-46 percent edge. Back in March, Murphy enjoyed a 52-to-37 percent lead in what was then a theoretical matchup with McMahon, the former pro-wrestling executive.

In New Jersey, the Newark Star-Ledger reports that Joe Kyrillos will host the Garden State’s farewell breakfast in Tampa.  Today he’ll host a farewell breakfast for the state delegation, at which he plans to speak.  Kyrillos has a long friendship with Christie that began when they worked on President George H.W. Bush’s 1992 re-election campaign. And it was during the same campaign that he became acquainted with Mitt Romney, this year’s Republican presidential nominee whom he also backed in 2008.