The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s (DCCC) new web ad.

‘A New Direction. Now.’

This is a good one! Tester is going to win. His opponent, Sen. Conrad Burns (R-MT) hates firefighters!

If you’re out there and feeling frustrated by Bob Casey’s timid campaign for the United States Senate in Pennsylvania then you are not alone. Day after day Casey continues to run a “conventional” campaign against an unconventional opponent and the polls are narrowing as a result.

Dan Savage, the sex columnist turned anti-Santorum activist, recently donated a $2,100 check to the Casey campaign to help the challenger close the nearly 2 to 1 gap between campaigns in terms of fundraising so far. Here’s the thing, SAVAGE’S CHECK WAS RETURNED BY THE CAMPAIGN!

From the Philadelphia Inquirer:

The Seattle-based syndicated sex columnist who minted a raunchy definition of “Santorum” and assembled a Web site to share it with all the world tried channeling his distaste for Pennsylvania’s junior senator with a $2,100 contribution to Casey’s campaign.

But six weeks after receiving a thank-you call from a Casey staffer and an invite to his Seattle fund-raiser, Savage learned this week that his money wasn’t necessarily welcomed.

Not directly, at least.

Casey’s finance director called Savage on Tuesday to say thanks, but no thanks. The “higher ups” in the campaign decided that the contribution could cause Casey more trouble than it was worth, Savage said he was told. Savage said it was then suggested that he donate the check to an organization working for Santorum’s defeat.

“That way, Casey could benefit from my money without having to, you know, associate himself with the likes of me,” Savage wrote on his blog. “Huh.”

Savage is of course famous for coining a new definition of “Santorum.”

Now I know that DoubleSpeak is a family show, but it’s critical to note that Dan Savage (not to be confused with Fred or Ben Savage) played a pivotal role in beginning the anti-Santorum movement. Maybe it’s a bit vulgar, but it’s true, and I think Casey could benefit from calling a spade a spade.

Casey, take the money. Keep it. Use it to tell the voters of Pennsylvania that Radical Rick Santorum is a nut ball and far outside the mainstream in America. Go, do it now!

UPDATE (4:30 PM ET): Dan has decided to send the money to Philadelphians Against Santorum.

Democratic Governor Jennifer Granholm is in a tight race for re-election. Her opponent, Dick DeVos, is an extremely wealthy individual who will be dumping much of his Amway fortune into his race for Governor.

Polls have been neck and neck and it likely will remain that way until election day 2006. The latest poll from Detroit News/WXYZ-TV poll has Granholm up only four percentage points.

From the poll:

The lead is Granholm’s first since February, when DeVos started a nonstop TV ad barrage that to date has cost him more than $10 million. The Granholm campaign has yet to air a commercial, but the Democratic Party has spent more than $2 million on ads on her behalf.

Detroit News/WXYZ pollster Ed Sarpolus said the June launch of Democratic Party ads and recent news that Google Inc. and other companies will bring jobs to Michigan have combined to boost the governor’s campaign.

“People are starting to hear the other side,” Sarpolus said. “Is she out of trouble? No. She’s still under 50 percent support. But the trends show she has to tell her story.”

Good luck Governor, we’re pulling for you! Please visit Granholm’s website today and do all you can to help keep Michigan blue!

George W. Bush’s deplorable veto of embryonic stem cell research is already having a big political impact beyond the Beltway.

Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle, locked in a vicious battle with his GOP opponent, Congressman Mark Green, is touting his own leadership on stem cells and attacking Green as an out-of-touch extremist.

The University of Wisconsin is one of America’s premier research institutions investigating the potential life-saving power of stem cells. Wisconsinites overwhelmingly support stem cell research, so Green’s bow to the religious right could well hurt him in November.

Recent polls show the race is a toss-up, with the independent Rasmussen poll showing Doyle up 47%-41%, and the Republican Strategic Vision outfit showing Doyle up 43%-42%.