State by State

California

As expected, the conservative Club for Growth endorsed state Sen. Tom McClintock (R) in the 4th district congressional race Wednesday, adding potentially more money to what already promised to be among the most expensive House primaries in the country.

McClintock and former Rep. Doug Ose (R) are tangled in a heated primary that has continually evolved throughout the cycle.

{mosads}The centrist Ose entered the race following retiring Rep. John Doolittle’s (R) retirement announcement.

McClintock, a former gubernatorial candidate, then cleared the field, with the exception of Ose, by announcing last month.

The Club said Ose has “a lackluster record that includes voting for increased spending, increased regulation, and limiting economic freedom,” pointing to his record in the House, including a vote for the 2002 campaign finance bill.

“Over his many years in California politics, Tom McClintock has proven himself to be an unwavering economic conservative, who can be counted on to fight for taxpayers regardless of the opposition,” Club for Growth Executive Director David Keating said.

Ose spokesman Doug Elmets referenced a recent  New York Times Magazine article in which National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) Chairman Tom Cole (Okla.) bashed the Club for Growth.

“Doug Ose has garnered over 100 endorsements from local elected officials throughout District 4, that have a more significant influence on the day-to-day lives of people who live and work in the district than an organization such as the Club for Growth that the chairman of the NRCC referred to as stupid and politically inept,” Elmets said.

Ose also launched a new round of TV and radio ads Tuesday. In one ad, he hits McClintock for moving to run for Congress after representing the Los Angeles area for so long.

“I’m Doug Ose, I was born and raised in Northern California, and I approve this ad,” Ose said.

— Aaron Blake

New Hampshire

Former Gov. Jeanne Shaheen’s (D) Senate campaign is holding its canvass kick-off Saturday, encouraging voters to register and get out the word about Shaheen’s candidacy.

“This Saturday throughout New Hampshire Shaheen supporters will take our message to our neighbors — we can count on Jeanne Shaheen to work for the people of New Hampshire and bring much needed change to Washington, D.C.,” Shaheen’s campaign website says.

The former governor’s candidacy was widely considered a coup for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.

Most polls show Shaheen holding wide leads over Sen. John Sununu (R), who narrowly defeated Shaheen in 2002. The campaign website shows six statewide locations where Shaheen supporters can go to register with the campaign.

— Sam Youngman

New Jersey

State Sen. John Adler’s (D) campaign says he raised about $530,000 in the first quarter, to bring his total raised for the cycle to almost $1.2 million.

Adler, who is running for the seat of retiring Rep. Jim Saxton (R), has a clear path in the Democratic primary and will face the winner of a primary between Ocean County Freeholder Jack Kelly and Medford Mayor Chris Myers.

About three-quarters of his contributors came from in-state.

“As more voters meet John Adler and listen to his message for change, they agree that he is the only candidate who will use his political independence to fix the mess in Washington and reverse the course of the Bush administration,” said Adler campaign manger Raiyan Syed.

— A.B.

New Mexico

A new poll conducted for banker Aubrey Dunn shows him leading a crowded GOP primary for Rep. Steve Pearce’s (R) House seat.

Dunn leads businessman Ed Tinsley 22-16 in the poll, with Earl Greer at 10 percent and Monty Newman at 8 percent. Greg Sowards registers at 1 percent.

Both Dunn and Tinsley had about 55 percent name recognition.

The poll was conducted among 400 likely GOP primary voters last week by National Research Inc.

“Geographically, Dunn holds strong leads in the eastern and oil-patch regions of the district, while holding Tinsley to a virtual tie in the Rio Grande Valley,” said pollster Adam Geller. “In fact, the valley is the only region where Earl Greer has any presence, but Greer and Tinsley split enough votes that Dunn benefits and runs very strongly in that area as well.”

Tinsley’s campaign noted that 36 percent of voters are undecided and said those voters would decide the race.

The primary is June 3.

— A.B.