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Friday's Campaign Round-Up, 9.19.14

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:
 
* Another plagiarism controversy trips up a candidate: this time it's Wisconsin gubernatorial hopeful Mary Burke (D), whose economic plan includes text lifted from other candidates. Burke's office blamed a consultant who has since been fired.
 
* Rep. Nick Rahall (D-W.Va.), one of Congress' most vulnerable Democratic incumbents, picked up a welcome endorsement yesterday from the National Rifle Association. Democrats rarely get NRA endorsements.
 
* In Alaska's closely watched U.S. Senate race, the latest statewide poll shows incumbent Sen. Mark Begich (D) up by five over Dan Sullivan (R), 39% to 34%.
 
* On a related note, Republicans have now begun criticizing Begich in Alaska for only "pretending" to ride snowmobiles.
 
* Casino mogul Sheldon Adelson is apparently taking a renewed interest in the 2014 elections, donating $10 million to Karl Rove's attack operation, Crossroads GPS. Adelson also reportedly "promised a similar amount" to a conservative group called the American Action Network.
 
* There aren't too many vulnerable House Republicans this cycle, but Michigan Rep. Dan Benishek is one of them, and the National Republican Congressional Committee invested $1 million in air time to help bolster the incumbent.
 
* In case there were any doubts about Iowa's gubernatorial race, Quinnipiac now shows incumbent Gov. Terry Branstad (R) leading challenger Jack Hatch (D) by 23 points.
 
* And in New Hampshire, former Sen. Scott Brown (R-Mass.) is facing new criticism this week for allegedly trying to deduct "thousands of dollars of makeup and grooming expenses on his taxes."