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Friday's campaign round-up

Today's installment of campaign-related news items from across the country.
U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan (D-NC) comes out from the weekly policy luncheon October 4, 2011.
U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan (D-NC) comes out from the weekly policy luncheon October 4, 2011.
 
* The early conservative attack ads, intended to undermine Sen. Kay Hagan (D) in North Carolina, have had the desired effect. Public Policy Polling found this week that Hagan's approval rating is down to 41% and her likely Republican opponents now enjoy modest leads over her in hypothetical match-ups.
 
* For her part, Hagan told MSNBC this week, "The people in North Carolina are not going to let the billionaire Koch brothers buy this seat."
 
* How important do conservative groups consider the congressional special election in Florida? A month before the election, prominent Republican organizations -- the Chamber of Commerce, the NRCC, American Crossroads, and American Action Network -- spent a combined $1 million in the district just this week.
 
* The Koch-financed Americans for Prosperity is launching another round of ads targeting Rep. Nick Rahall (D) in West Virginia.
 
* Democratic super PAC Priorities USA Action is reportedly prepared to sit out the 2014 cycle and focus on 2016. House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) told MSNBC last night he's "absolutely" urging the group to get "engaged" this year.
 
* It doesn't last long, and the image is hard to see, but Republican congressional candidate Carl DeMaio briefly shows his same-sex partner in a new campaign ad.
 
* And in Arkansas, Rep. Tim Griffin (R-Ark.) already announced his retirement from Congress, but yesterday announced he will run for lieutenant governor.