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The Club For Growth is taking aim at Crist in a new ad.

(CNN) – Fresh off its considerable impact in New York's special congressional race, the Club for Growth is wading into the Republican Senate primary in Florida with a new ad criticizing Gov. Charlie Crist's initial support of President Obama's stimulus package.

"Since Charlie Crist helped pass Barack Obama's spending program, nearly two hundred thousand Floridians have lost their jobs," the ad's narrator states as video is shown of Crist and Obama at a rally in support of the package last February. "Unemployment is the highest in decades. Personal income's down. And the deficit in Washington is three times larger."

The conservative political action committee, which spent upwards of $1 million helping to derail a Republican candidate in New York who many conservatives felt was too liberal in her social and fiscal policies, has yet to determine the specific amount of the Florida ad buy.

But Club For Growth spokesman Mike Connolly said the group was moved to quickly produce the 30-second spot after Crist told CNN's Wolf Blitzer Wednesday on The Situation Room that he never "endorsed" the stimulus plan.

"We wanted to correct the record," Connolly said.

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Huckabee kicks off book tour.

(CNN) – 'Tis the season for potential 2012 hopefuls to release new books.

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee released a holiday-themed collection Tuesday called "A Simple Christmas: Twelve Stories That Celebrate the True Holiday Spirit."

According to Huckabee's Web site, the book includes twelve "Christmas memories - often funny, sometimes deeply moving-that range from his childhood in Arkansas to his years as a young husband and father to his time as a governor and then a presidential candidate."

Huckabee is kicking off a book tour for his new release Wednesday in the Washington area, appearing at a Christian Science Monitor breakfast before a lunchtime signing at the Costco in nearby Pentagon City.

In all, the tour comprises of 22 cities and 64 events.

Huckabee's book comes two weeks before the much-anticipated Sarah Palin memoir "Going Rogue: An American Life."

(CNN) - With only five days until Election Day, Virginia is has become ground zero for the political glitterati.

First, President Obama paid a visit to the state Tuesday on behalf of Democrat Creigh Deeds. The two held a rally at Old Dominion University in Norfolk.

Now Republican Bob McDonnell is bringing in the GOP star power: Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani is campaigning for the former state attorney general in Democratic-leaning Fairfax County, while former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney will join McDonnell for events in Virginia Beach, Roanoke, and Richmond.

(CNN) - As New Jersey's three gubernatorial candidates get set to debate for the second time Friday night, a new poll suggests the race is a dead heat heading into the final stretch.

According to a New York Times survey of likely voters, Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine holds a 3 point lead over Republican Chris Christie, 40 percent to 37 percent. Corzine's slim lead is within the poll's 4 percentage point sampling error, suggesting the race is statistically tied. The survey also shows independent candidate Chris Daggett continues to garner double digit support with 14 percent.

But 30 percent of voters in the poll who named a candidate said they may change their mind before Election Day, a clear sign neither Corzine nor Christie has made the final sale with three weeks left until voters head to the polls.

The Times survey, which included 987 adults between October 11-14, has similar findings to a Quinnipiac University poll released earlier this week that had the race at 40-41 percent in favor of Christie.

(CNN) – The field of Democratic candidates vying to replace the late Sen. Ted Kennedy appears to be growing.

Former Rep. Mike Capuano will officially get into the race Friday, his office has announced. Capuano, whose district represents parts of Boston and its immediate suburbs, is little known statewide, according to a new Suffolk University Poll.

Meanwhile, Stephen Pagliuca, the wealthy private equity investor and co-owner of the Boston Celtics, is reportedly also set to jump into the race on the Democratic side. Pagliuca has already lined up a staff and is willing to spend a considerable amount of his own $400 million fortune on the race, according to the Boston Globe.

The Democratic primary for the Senate nomination will take place December 8. The special election to fill the seat is scheduled for January 19, 2010.

Virginia residents are set to be bombarded Thursday with new television ads attacking both the state's gubernatorial candidates.

(CNN) – Virginia residents are set to be bombarded Thursday with new television ads attacking both the state's gubernatorial candidates.

The Republican Governor's Association, via their offshoot political action committee in Virginia, released a 30-second spot that takes aim at Democratic candidate Creigh Deeds' fiscal policies, saying Deeds once pushed for a tax plan that would have increased taxes on gasoline by 34 percent.

"Creigh Deeds, pumping up spending, pumping up taxes, even in a bad economy," the ad's narrator states.

Meanwhile, the Deeds campaign went up with an ad Thursday targeting Republican Bob McDonnell's policies on abortion issues.

"Bob McDonnell introduced 35 bills to restrict a women's right to choose," the ad's narrator states. "He wants to outlaw abortion - even in cases of rape and incest."

Massachusetts Rep. Michael Capuano is taking the initial steps to run for the vacant Senate seat long held by Ted Kennedy.

(CNN) - Massachusetts Rep. Michael Capuano is taking the initial steps to run for the vacant Senate seat long held by Ted Kennedy - making him the third Democrat likely to jump into the closely-watched race.

In a statement released Tuesday, Capuano said he has obtained the necessary paperwork to run for the seat because his positions most "closely mirror" those of the late Massachusetts senator.

"I believe that the voters of Massachusetts want to continue the progressive ideals that Senator Ted Kennedy fought for during his decades of service," Capuano said. "No other candidate being mentioned or already announced more closely mirrors Ted Kennedy's positions on important issues of war and peace."

The move comes nearly a week after state Attorney Gen. Martha Coakley formally announced her Senate bid. Massachusetts Rep. Stephen Lynch also appears poised to enter the race, obtaining nomination papers Friday.

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Obama's approval dip in Florida largely mirrors his numbers nationwide.

(CNN) - President Obama's approval ratings are sinking in a key state that helped seal his White House victory, a new survey out Thursday suggests.

According to a new Quinnipiac University poll of Florida voters, the president's approval rating now stands at 47 percent in the Sunshine State, while 48 percent of voters there disapprove of the job he is doing.

Obama's approval in that key presidential swing state is now at a new low, and down more than 10 points from a similar survey conducted in June.

The poll also suggests the president's approval rating in Florida has largely been hurt by his aggressive push for health care reform: Only 38 percent of Florida voters believe his plan will improve the nation's healthcare system while 45 percent say it will hurt it.

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(CNN) – Buoyed by last month's high-profile Chicago fundraiser featuring President Obama, the Democratic National Committee reports it raked in over $9 million for the month of July - a cash haul that far exceeds that of the Republican National Committee during the same time period.

According to a report filed with the Federal Election Commission Thursday, the DNC raised just over $9.1 million last month, and has more than $16 million cash on hand. Including various refunds and rebates, the DNC reports its total receipts at close to $9.3 million for the month.  It also reports carrying a debt of more than $5 million.

Earlier Thursday, the RNC said it raised $6 million in July. The committee also said Thursday it has close to $22 million cash on hand and is carrying no debt.

The July fundraising hauls suggest both parties campaign coffers will be well-stocked as the midterm election season begins to heat up.

(CNN) - The White House apologized Thursday "if anybody was unduly alarmed" by Vice President Joe Biden's comments that seemed to suggest Americans should avoid air travel or confined spaces of any kind.

"What the vice president meant to say was the same thing that many members have said in the last few days," White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said. "And that is, if you feel sick, are exhibiting flu-like symptoms….that you should take precautions, that you should limit your travel."

In an appearance on NBC's Today Show earlier Thursday, Biden said he had urged his family not to go "anywhere in confined places now."

Related video: Biden flu gaffe off message

"I would not be, at this point, if they had another way of transportation, (be) suggesting they ride the subway. … So from my perspective, what it relates to is mitigation. If you're out in the middle of a field and someone sneezes, that's one thing, if you're in a closed aircraft or closed container or closed car or closed classroom it's a different thing," he said.

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Michael Steele is one of several Republicans criticizing the Iowa Supreme Court ruling.

(CNN) – Republicans are sharply criticizing the Iowa Supreme Court ruling Friday that reverses the state's 11-year-old ban on same-sex marriage.

RNC Chairman Michael Steele:

"The Iowa Supreme Court's decision today to reverse an 11 year old state law outlawing same-sex marriage is sadly another example of judicial activism currently threatening family values in America. While I respect an individual's right to live his or her life as they see fit, decisions like this are better left in the hands of legislators and governors."

"I firmly believe that marriage should be between one man and one woman. A state's autonomous nature allows it to change its laws as the citizenry sees fit, but it should be done by the people, not through judicial decree."

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney:

"I believe marriage is a relationship between a man and a woman and the definition of marriage should be left to the people and not to activist courts."

Former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee (via Twitter):

"Iowa Sup. Court dec. to allow same sex marriage is disappointing. All Iowans should have a say in this matter, not legislative judges ... must fight to preserve family and amend the Constitution of the United States to define marriage as one man and one woman."

South Carolina governor Mark Sanford:

Joel Sawyer, a spokesman for Sanford, did not react to the Iowa ruling specifically, but said the governor is "against same-sex marriage." Sawyer pointed out that "South Carolina passed a same-sex marriage ban last year, and the governor was supportive of it."

Alaska governor Sarah Palin:

Bill McAllister, a spokesman for Palin, said that as of this morning, "we haven't discussed it." Palin has said she opposes defining marriage as anything but between a man and a woman.

The White House accidentally directed reporters to a sex line Thursday.

(CNN) – Journalists who dialed in to a White House conference call Thursday hoping for a media-friendly reception got a far friendlier response than they were counting on.

Instead of hearing Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and National Security Advisor Jim Jones on the other end laying out foreign policy and security threats, reporters were greeted by a recording on a phone sex line.

"Do you have any hidden desires? If you feel like getting nasty, then you came to the right place," said a suggestive-sounding woman.

The White House says an aide merely mistyped the 800-dial in number - a mistake not likely to happen again.

It's a new administration, but an old problem: Some homeowners seeking mortgage relief from a Bush administration hotline in 2007 instead reached a Texas-based group that provides Christian education after President Bush slightly jumbled the correct number at a press briefing.

Cindy McCain is getting tough on Obama.

(CNN) - Cindy McCain, wife of Republican presidential candidate John McCain, appears to have sharpened her attacks against Barack Obama on the campaign trail in the final stretch of the race for the White House.

One day after she told a Tennessee newspaper Obama is running the "dirtiest campaign in American history," Mrs. McCain criticized the Illinois senator for voting against a bill to fund troops in Iraq, a regular line of attack from her husband’s campaign.

“The day that Senator Obama cast a vote not to fund my son when he was serving sent a cold chill through my body, let me tell you,” she told a Pennsylvania crowd before introducing her husband and Republican VP candidate Sarah Palin.

“I would suggest Senator Obama change shoes with me for just one day. I suggest he take a day and go watch our men and women deploying," she also said, to boisterous cheers from the campaign.

The vote Mrs. McCain is referencing came in May of 2007, when Obama was one of 14 senators who voted against a war-spending plan that would have provided emergency funds for American troops overseas.

He, like many Democrats, was pushing for an end to the war in Iraq, and the legislation included no provisions for that. Before that vote, Obama did support and vote for a funding proposal that included a timeline for withdrawal from Iraq - a troop funding bill McCain opposed.
A CNN fact check deemed the charge that Obama voted against troop funding "misleading."

Read CNN's fact check on that vote

More white women support McCain-Palin than Obama-Biden.

(CNN) – Did John McCain's selection of Sarah Palin as his running mate cause a major shift of white women toward the Republican presidential ticket?

Not according to the latest CNN/Opinion Research Corporation polls.

The pick of Palin, the first female Republican VP candidate, was designed in part to lure women voters to the GOP ticket, with McCain aides hoping a significant proportion of that voting bloc would identify with Palin's working-mom credentials.

But in a CNN/ORC survey released Monday, McCain drew 56 percent of support from registered white women - a statistically insignificant 3 points more than his support among that demographic in the week before he picked Palin as his VP.

Read full poll results [PDF]

"In CNN/Opinion Research Corporation polls, Barack Obama was losing white women before the conventions, and he's losing them now," CNN Polling Director Keating Holland said. "His problems with this important voting bloc didn't start when Sarah Palin joined the GOP ticket."

These numbers appear to contradict findings from a recently released Washington Post/ABC News poll that suggested the Arizona senator gained 20 points among white women after Palin joined the ticket and prompted several stories of the Illinois senator's new problem with this key demographic.

But the CNN/ORC poll indicates McCain is even more popular among white women than Palin is (69 vs. 65 percent approval) - evidence his support among that demographic may be attributed to his own appeal, not Palin's. Obama and Joe Biden are also popular with white women, though not to quite the same degree: 58 percent said they held a favorable view of Obama while 55 percent said the same of Biden in the latest poll.

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The presidential race remains close with just 57 days left until the election.

(CNN) - Why is the presidential race dead even after both parties have had their conventions? In a nutshell, it's because the conventions have not changed the basic dynamic of the race.

Earlier: CNN poll shows race dead even

New numbers released by CNN Monday explain just how the presidential race remains so close with 57 days to go until voters weigh in at the polls: the conventions were so successful for both parties that that each essentially canceled the other out.

The candidates' favorable ratings are identical (60 percent) - and almost identical to what they were before the conventions began. The GOP convention made Republicans more enthusiastic (an increase of 17 points). But Democrats are more enthusiastic as well (up 14 points), so an 11 point "enthusiasm gap" favoring remains: 71 percent of Democrats say they are enthusiastic about the election, compared to 60 percent of Republicans.

The candidates' strengths and weaknesses on the issues also have not changed over the last month - Obama retains his edge on the economy and health care; McCain's advantage remains on Iraq and terrorism.

Full poll results [PDF]

In fact, the Iraq issue is instructive of just how effectively the conventions molded public opinion. Before the Democratic convention, McCain had a 9-point edge; after the Democratic convention it was a tie, and now McCain has a 14-point lead on Iraq.

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Obama's campaign said the latest McCain ad is beyond Karl Rove's playbook.

(CNN) - Few names inspire more of a heated reaction among Democrats than Karl Rove, and Barack Obama’s campaign is making a concerted effort Thursday to link the former Bush advisor to John McCain's presidential campaign.

On a campaign conference call with reporters responding to the Arizona senator's latest television ad, Obama campaign manager David Plouffe said the spot is worse than anything Rove would have developed.

"This is not the John McCain voters thought they would be seeing in this presidential campaign," Plouffe said. "He's not just embracing the Rove playbook that people really are tired of, he's taking it to a further extreme."

Those comments came only hours after Plouffe circulated a fundraising e-mail to supporters in which he said McCain's campaign had taken a "nasty turn” with its "Karl Rove-style ploy."

"This Karl Rove-style ploy misleads people about Barack's energy plan and even mocks his ability to inspire voters and bring Americans back into the political process," Plouffe wrote in the e-mail.

The television ad in question compares Obama's celebrity status to that of Britney Spears and Paris Hilton, and questions whether the Illinois senator is "ready to lead." Obama dismissed the ad as "game playing" Thursday while McCain said he was "proud of it."

Watch: McCain ad compares Obama to Paris Hilton, Britney Spears

Rove has no official role with the McCain campaign, though Steve Schmidt, a senior adviser in charge of the day-to-day message, was a longtime protégé of Rove's.

DNC Chairman Howard Dean.

WASHINGTON (CNN) - The Democratic Party on Monday filed a lawsuit against the Federal Elections Commission seeking to force the group to investigate whether John McCain has violated federal spending limits for his primary campaign.

The lawsuit, which was filed in the United States District Court in Washington, is the latest move by the Democratic National Committee that seeks to prove the Arizona senator locked himself into campaign spending limits earlier this year when he used the prospect of $6 million in federal matching funds as collateral for a December bank loan to his campaign.

The DNC first filed a complaint with the FEC in February, arguing then that McCain should be forced to accept the matching funds - and the spending limits that come with it.

DNC Chairman Howard Dean said that McCain not only used the prospect of the funds as loan collateral, but he also accepted automatic ballot access in every state - an advantage given to those who accept federal matching funds. (Those who do not accept federal matching funds are forced to gain ballot access themselves - a task that can cost millions of dollars.)

Full story

Hillary and Bill Clinton.

(CNN) — Hillary Clinton wants her husband to quit talking about her trip to Bosnia in 1996, the former president said Friday.

"Hillary called me and said, "I misstated it, you said I misstated it, but you got to let me handle it because you don't remember it either'...I said 'Yes ma'am," Clinton said while touring the fire damage of a campaign office in Terre Haute, Indiana.

The comments follow those he made in Boonville, Indiana Thursday, when he strongly defended his wife over the recent coverage surrounding her 1996 Bosnia trip claims, saying the media acted as if she'd "robbed a bank."

"I got tickled the other day, a lot of the way this whole campaign has been covered has amused me, but there was a lot of fulminating because Hillary, one time late at night when she was exhausted, misstated and immediately apologized for it, what happened to her in Bosnia in 1995. Did y'all see all that? Oh, they blew it up," he said.

Full story

Earlier: Bill Clinton says media overreacted to Bosnia flap