Democrats continue to play coy about their plans in Maine, where former Gov. Angus King — an independent — is the early front-runner in the race.
Dill told The Hill on Wednesday that at some point, she will definitely need to know whether Democrats in Washington are truly behind her.
{mosads}“The party in Maine is clearly behind me. I think that’s very important, and I hope to earn the support of my colleagues in the national Democratic Party,” Dill said. “I think there’s excitement here for the message we fought for in the campaign, which is sticking to core Democratic values and not being anything other than a strong Democrat.”
TOMORROW’S AGENDA TODAY: President Obama will speak at the Cuyahoga Community College Metropolitan Campus in Cleveland, while Mitt Romney campaigns in Cincinnati.
Obama and first lady Michelle Obama will also be in New York City to visit the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey’s World Trade Center site. They will then attend a fundraiser with Vogue editor Anna Wintour and actress Sarah Jessica Parker.
Vice President Biden will deliver the commencement address at Tallwood High School in Virginia Beach, Va.
TWEET OF THE DAY: “Big sigh of relief. Ready to move forward with life.” — Cate Edwards, after the Justice Department dropped its case against her father, John Edwards.
POLL POSITION:
The swing-voting independents who are likely the key to November’s presidential race are distrustful of both President Obama and Mitt Romney‘s economic plans, according to a poll released Wednesday by ABC News and The Washington Post.
AD WATCH:
Democrats are using a new Web ad to hammer Mitt Romney over his suggestion that the federal government should not help subsidize the hiring of more teachers and emergency responders.
The Republican National Committee released a new Web video hitting President Obama for a planned address on the economy Thursday in Cleveland.
BATTLE FOR THE HOUSE:
The National Republican Congressional Committee has reserved $18.2 million in air time for the fall spread across more than two dozen competitive districts.
Democrats’ chances to retake the House were hurt Tuesday when their preferred candidates lost in three Southern House districts.
Tennessee: Rep. Chuck Fleischmann (R-Tenn.) is on the air with his first television ad of his reelection campaign, evoking his late mother in a positive spot describing his childhood. Weston Wamp, who is challenging Fleischmann in the primary, responded by announcing that he would go on the air Thursday. Wamp’s campaign said the ad is called “A Brave Bet” and will be patriotic, but said it wouldn’t be released until midnight. Wamp’s team also pointed out that his would air on broadcast television — not just cable, like Fleishmann’s ad.
SENATE SHOWDOWN:
The GOP-aligned American Crossroads and Crossroads GPS are adding $4.6 million to a Senate ad blitz expanding to six more states. The states in their cross-hairs are Nebraska, Nevada, Ohio, Virginia, North Dakota and Missouri — all states with competitive Senate races.
Maine: Former Gov. Angus King (I) challenged both the Democrat and Republican to sign an agreement to limit outside groups and super-PACs from spending in the race, à la Elizabeth Warren and Sen. Scott Brown (R) in Massachusetts. Cynthia Dill, the Democrat, said she would carefully consider an agreement, but added that the devil would be in the details, considering the “vast disparity of personal wealth” among the candidates — a thinly veiled swipe at King.
Montana: Rep. Denny Rehberg (R-Mont.) is up with a new ad touting his bipartisan credentials, a sign that he’s worried about being tied too closely to his party in the Republican-leaning but independent-minded state.
Ohio: More than 30 Republican senators — including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) — will host a fundraiser in Washington on Monday for Senate challenger Josh Mandel.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:
Casino magnate Sheldon Adelson has followed through on his promise to support Mitt Romney after the Massachusetts governor secured the Republican nomination — and in a big way. Adelson has given $10 million to Restore Our Future, the super-PAC supporting Romney’s presidential election effort.
Actor Betty White taped an advertisement for the White House’s Summer Jobs initiative.
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