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Thursday's Campaign Round-Up, 5.22.14

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 Wisconsin's competitive gubernatorial race, a Marquette Law School Poll released yesterday shows incumbent Gov. Scott Walker (R) tied with challenger Mary Burke (D), 46% each.
 
* In Iowa, a new PPP poll shows Joni Ernst pulling away from the field in the Republicans' U.S. Senate primary, but in a match-up against Rep. Bruce Braley (D), the conservative state lawmaker trails by six points.
 
* The same poll shows Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad (R) ahead in his re-election bid, but his eight-point advantage over challenge Jack Hatch (D) is hardly insurmountable.
 
* In Montana, Rep. Steve Daines, the leading Republican Senate hopeful, opposes abortion rights, even in cases of rape. It's a fact appointed-Sen. John Walsh (D) is highlighting in a tough new television ad. "I was raped when I was 14 years old. I know the pain it caused me," Helena's Melissa Barcroft tells viewers. "That's why it's so insulting that Congressman Steve Daines sponsored a bill to make abortion illegal for victims of sexual assault. He's even proposed making women criminals for having an abortion."
 
* The Koch brothers' AFP has a new attack ad in Louisiana goes after Sen. Mary Landrieu (D), but it doesn't mention the Affordable Care Act. (It does, however, talk about the debt ceiling in such a way that assumes voters are fools.)
 
* Liberal billionaire Tom Steyer continues to take an interest in the 2014 cycle, launching new operations in four Senate races (Colorado, Iowa, Michigan, and New Hampshire) and three gubernatorial races (Florida, Maine, and Pennsylvania). All of Steyer's efforts focus on climate change, which traditionally has not been an issue that dictates the outcome of elections.
 
* In New York, former Rep. Kathleen Hochul (D) has agreed to join Gov. Andrew Cuomo's (D) 2014 ticket as lieutenant governor.
 
* And in Massachusetts, a new WBUR poll shows state Attorney General Martha Coakley (D)  as the clear favorite in the Democrats' gubernatorial primary. In a hypothetical general-election match-up, the survey shows Coakley leading Charlie Baker (R) by nine, 39% to 30%.