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Wednesday's Campaign Round-Up, 4.23.14

Today's installment of campaign-related news items from across the country.
Today's installment of campaign-related news items that won't necessarily generate a post of their own, but may be of interest to political observers:
 
* In Arkansas, a new poll released by the New York Times and Kaiser Family Foundation shows Sen. Mark Pryor (D) with a 10-point lead over Rep. Tom Cotton (R), 46% to 36%.
 
* In Kentucky, the New York Times/Kaiser Family Foundation poll shows Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R) with the narrowest of leads over Alison Lundergran Grimes (D), 44% to 43%.
 
* In Louisiana, the New York Times/Kaiser Family Foundation poll shows incumbent Sen. Mary Landrieu (D) with 42% support, well ahead of Rep. Bill Cassidy's (R) 18%, but remember that Louisiana's odd primary process is unique and there are multiple Republicans running against one Democrat. Unless Landrieu tops 50%, she'll have to face Cassidy in a one-on-one runoff.
 
* Speaking of Landrieu, the Democratic incumbent talked to Greg Sargent yesterday about health care and her re-election campaign. The senator voiced fairly strong support for the Affordable Care Act: "It's a solid law that needs improvement. My opponent offers nothing but repeal, repeal, and repeal. And even with all the law's setbacks, we're seeing benefits for thousands of people in Louisiana."
 
* In North Carolina, the New York Times/Kaiser Family Foundation poll shows incumbent Sen. Kay Hagan (D) with a narrow lead over Thom Tillis (R), 42% to 40%, though Tillis still has a tough primary race to win.
 
* In Wisconsin, PPP now shows an increasingly competitive gubernatorial race, with incumbent Gov. Scott Walker (R) leading Mary Burke (D), 48% to 45%. The three-point lead is smaller than the six-point advantage Walker enjoyed in the fall.
 
* Thank you, Lynn Vavreck, for noting a poli-sci detail pundits too often  refuse to believe: "If you want to understand the 2014 midterm elections, remember this simple fact about American politics: There just aren't that many swing voters.... The 2014 fight is not over swing voters. It's for partisans."
 
* And after loaning his campaign $2.65 million, businessman Curt Clawson easily won a Republican primary yesterday in the race to replace former Rep. Trey Radel (R) in Florida's 19th district. Clawson will face April Freeman (D) in a June 24 special election, which the Republican is widely expected to win.