Fey likely to revive Palin impersonation
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/images/04/07/art.tinafey.gi.file.jpg caption="Tina Fey is likely to bring back her Sarah Palin impersonation."](CNN) - Writers for Saturday Night Live likely completed a sketch featuring Tina Fey's infamous impersonation of Sarah Palin Tuesday, Fey told NBC's the Today Show.
Fey, a onetime cast member of the late night comedy program who is set to serve as its host this weekend, said she hasn't seen the sketch yet but will do an initial run through of it Wednesday.
Maryland governor's race: The rematch
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/images/04/07/art.omalley.0407.gi.jpg caption ="Martin O’Malley won the governorship of Maryland in 2006."]Washington (CNN) - This rematch is getting interesting.
Former Maryland Gov. Robert Ehrlich on Wednesday kicked off his bid to get his old office back. The person he's challenging is current Gov. Martin O'Malley - the man who knocked him out of office four years ago.
"Welcome to history, part two," Ehrlich, a Republican, told a crowd in Rockville, Maryland, which is located in the heavily Democratic Montgomery County.
Ehrlich was scheduled to hold a rally later Wednesday in Baltimore County, the area he represented in Congress for eight years.
Kirk reports cash haul, Giannoulias responds
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/images/04/07/art.kirk.file.gi.jpg caption="Rep. Mark Kirk's campaign announced their first quarter fundraising totals on Wednesday."]Washington (CNN) - Rep. Mark Kirk, the Illinois Republican seeking President Obama's old Senate seat, raised $2.2 million in the first quarter of 2010, and has more than $3 million in the bank, his campaign said Wednesday.
"Illinois voters have a clear choice in this election to change direction, create jobs and restore integrity to the State of Illinois," the five-term congressman said in a written statement.
Kirk is set to face Democratic nominee and Illinois State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias in November. Current Illinois Sen. Roland Burris, a Democrat, will not seek a full term for the seat he was appointed to after Obama became president.
The Giannoulias campaign has not released its own fundraising totals for the first quarter, but did respond to the Kirk figures.
Steele speaks with RNC committee members
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/images/01/13/art.getty.rnc.steele.jpg caption ="RNC Chairman Michael Steele is speaking to committee members on a conference call Wednesday."]Washington (CNN) - Michael Steele is connecting today with the only people who have the power to oust him as chairman of the Republican National Committee.
Those people are the 168 members of the RNC, who are expected to join a conference call Wednesday with Steele. An RNC official downplayed the timing of it saying that it was a "routine" call.
But it comes as Steele is under fire for his leadership of the organization. Steele, Maryland's former lieutenant governor who made a bid for the Senate in 2006, is accused by critics of misusing donor funds as Republicans head into the midterm elections with less money than Democrats. The party's House and Senate campaign committees rely on the national parties to help fund efforts in the midterm election years.
Stupak considering retirement?
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/images/04/07/art.stupak.gi.file.jpg caption="Michigan Democrat Bart Stupak was a prime target of anger about the health care bill."](CNN) - Is Michigan Democratic Rep. Bart Stupak considering retiring? A statement from his spokeswoman Michelle Begnoche neither confirms, nor denies that.
"Every two years, Congressman Stupak discusses with his family and his constituents whether to seek reelection. He believes that is what the people of the First District of Michigan deserve," said Begnoche.
However, she also says Stupak's campaign plans are underway, and has already gathered the one thousand signatures needed to formally file for re-election by Michigan's deadline, May 11th.
And, despite the rumors and cryptic statement, several Michigan Democrats who know Stupak tell CNN they do not think he will retire.
Rubio reports $3.6 million cash haul
(CNN) - Marco Rubio announced Wednesday that he's raised $3.6 million in the first three months of the year in his bid for the U.S. Senate in Florida.
The former Florida House speaker is battling Gov. Charlie Crist for the Republican party's Senate nomination.
The Rubio campaign says nearly all of the money brought in during the first quarter is designated for the primary campaign. Florida holds its primary on August 24.
Top GOP strategist calls for Steele to step down
Washington (CNN) - Prominent Republican strategist Alex Castellanos called on Republican National Committee chairman Michael Steele to step down Tuesday after a series of embarrassing headlines raised questions about Steele's ability to lead the party into November's elections.
"I think a change in the direction now, at this point, would do the party good," Castellanos told CNN's "The Situation Room."
Castellanos a CNN political contributor, described Steele as a "good man, a very decent man and a tremendously talented man." But he said he had stopped serving as an informal advisor to Steele because "I lost my ability to be of service to the RNC."
But in an earlier interview on the same show, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani expressed confidence in Steele, saying that the RNC chairman "should remain exactly where he is."
GOP stars set for Wednesday rally
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/images/04/07/art.palin.0914.gi.jpg caption="Sarah Palin is scheduled to appear Wednesday at a rally in Minnesota."]Washington (CNN) - Minnesota residents have a chance Wednesday to get a look at one of the biggest names of the 2008 presidential campaign – and maybe take a glimpse into the future.
Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is scheduled to appear in Minneapolis Wednesday with Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty at a GOP rally and fundraiser for Rep. Michele Bachmann to be held at the Minneapolis Convention Center.
The Minneapolis Star Tribune reported Wednesday that 10,000 free tickets for the 3 p.m. ET rally have already been distributed. Tickets to an afternoon fundraiser run $500, while tickets for a private reception and photo opportunity will set couples back to the tune of $10,000.
DNC beats RNC in March cash haul
Washington (CNN) - The Democratic National Committee raised at least $13 million in March, a Democratic source tells CNN.
That would be at least $1.6 million more in fundraising than the DNC's counterpart, the Republican National Committee, which reported bringing in $11.4 million last month.
The DNC's March total is at least $5.5 million more than they raised in February. The RNC's total last month is nearly $4 million more than what they raised in February.
The divisive debate over the Democrats' health care reform legislation, which last month passed through Congress and was signed into law by President Obama, is most likely behind much of the bounce in cash.
Follow Paul Steinhauser on Twitter: @psteinhausercnn
RNC reports big fundraising haul in March
Washington (CNN) - The Republican National Committee says it raised $11.4 million in March, their biggest fundraising total for any March of a midterm election year, according to the organization.
The new numbers come as the RNC's chairman, Michael Steele, is under fire for his running of the organization.
The $11.4 million is nearly $4 million more than the RNC raised in February. The GOP's opposition to the Democrats' health care reform legislation, which last month passed through Congress and was signed into law by President Obama, is most likely behind much of the bounce in cash. The RNC says that FireNancyPelosi.com, a site to raise money off opposition to the House Speaker's role in the passage of health care reform, has so far raised $1.5 million since it was set up just two weeks ago.
But the $11.4 million is less than what the RNC's counterpart, the Democratic National Committee, raked in last month. The DNC brought in at least $13 million in fundraising in March, a Democratic source tells CNN.
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