Today’s installment of campaign-related news items from across the country.
* With the launch of his latest ad campaign in Florida’s U.S. Senate race, Gov. Rick Scott’s (R) “spending onslaught” is now “approaching $20 million.” It’s not even July yet.
* Speaking of big spenders in the Sunshine State, billionaire real estate investor Jeff Greene (D) kicked off a gubernatorial campaign in Florida this week, suggesting he might end up spending $100 million on the race. Greene ran an unsuccessful Senate campaign in Florida six years ago.
* In Pennsylvania, the latest Franklin & Marshall poll found incumbent Sen. Bob Casey (D) with a surprisingly large lead over Rep. Lou Barletta (R), 44% to 27%.
* The same poll found incumbent Gov. Tom Wolf (D) with a comparable lead over his Republican challenger, Scott Wagner, 48% to 29%.
* Though there’s been some chatter about House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R) leaving Capitol Hill and running for governor in Louisiana, the Republican congressman this week ruled out the possibility. * With Rep. Martha McSally (R) increasingly concerned about her Senate primary in Arizona, a group called One Nation, “aligned” with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R), is launching a new ad campaign in support of the Republican congresswoman. * And on a related note, McConnell isn’t up for re-election in Kentucky until 2020, but he recently “huddled with a few top aides” in preparation for his next campaign.
Steve Benen is a producer for "The Rachel Maddow Show," the editor of MaddowBlog and an MS NOW political contributor. He's also the bestselling author of "Ministry of Truth: Democracy, Reality, and the Republicans' War on the Recent Past." Recommended
