Election countdown: GOP & McConnell chase history

As the campaign enters its final full week, Paste BN looks at the election buzz for Monday:

McConnell seeks a promotion

If everything goes right for Republicans next week, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., will rise to majority leader and inherit dramatic power to shape the political agenda in Washington. But first he has to win his own re-election, which is not a sure thing. He is facing a significant challenge from Democrat Alison Lundergan Grimes. He has been ahead by a few points in most public polls, but not by enough to breathe easy.

Paste BN's Susan Davis explores the playing field and shows why Republicans have some optimism: Mostly, President Obama's dismal approval ratings, which are making it much harder for Democrats to motivate voters.

Iowa's unsurprising endorsement

Last week, Republican Joni Ernst declined to meet with The Des Moines Register editorial board to court the newspaper's endorsement for Iowa's open Senate seat. Her spokeswoman said at the time that the paper seemed to have already made up its mind, having issued several editorials critical of Ernst's positions.

So it's less than shocking that the newspaper endorsed her opponent, Democratic Rep. Bruce Braley, on Sunday, calling him an "ideal candidate to carry on (retiring Democratic Sen. Tom) Harkin's work in the Senate."

But the paper also got in a shot at this year's flood of negative advertisements, calling the Senate campaign "an exhibition of American politics at its worst."

Chris Christie says his team's winning

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who is also head of the Republican Governors Association, said on Fox News Sunday that he feels good about GOP chances to capture some executive seats this year.

"I think everybody expected us to be a little bit on our heels," Christie said. "It's now, quite to the contrary. We're on offense in more states than we're on defense."

Republican contenders appear to have a real shot at winning the governor races in traditional Democratic strongholds Illinois, Maryland and Massachusetts.

On the other hand, Republican incumbents in Florida, Wisconsin and Kansas are in serious trouble, and Gov. Tom Corbett of Pennsylvania has trailed his Democratic challenger by double digits for most of the election season.

Clinton/Bush redux?

George P. Bush, son of former Florida governor Jeb Bush, got tongues wagging this weekend when he told ABC News that is is "more than likely" his father will run for president in 2016. "If you had asked me a few years back, I would have said it was less likely."

Jeb Bush is considered a favorite of establishment Republicans for his relatively moderate views and demeanor — compared to other GOP figures considered possible contenders like Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul. And, of course, he would be the third Bush to occupy the Oval Office, following his father, George H.W. Bush, and brother George W. Bush.

A Bush candidacy could set up a Bush-Clinton rematch, as former secretary of State Hillary Clinton appears likely to mount another bid for the highest office in the land.

A family affair in Georgia

Speaking of prominent political families, Jason Carter, the Democratic nominee for governor, will get a hand from his grandparents on Monday. Former president Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, will appear at an event with Carter, a Georgia state senator, who is locked in a tight race with Republican Gov. Nathan Deal. Reps. John Lewis and Sanford Bishop are also scheduled to attend.

Carter's family lineage has sometimes been used as an attack line by Republicans during the campaign. Cruz, campaigning in Georgia for Deal and GOP Senate candidate David Perdue on Saturday, likened the Democratic ticket in Georgia to That '70s Show. Perdue is running against Democrat Michelle Nunn, daughter of former Georgia senator Sam Nunn.

Polling heads-up

Two new polls out Monday should be of interest. Paste BN and Suffolk University will release a new poll on the crucial Louisiana Senate race. Democratic Sen. Mary Landrieu is seeking a fourth term but faces a significant challenge from Republican Rep. Bill Cassidy and Rob Maness. And the Argus Leader in Sioux Falls releases a new poll on the Senate race there, which was expected to be a cakewalk for former GOP governor Mike Rounds but suddenly turned competitive earlier this month.

Hanging chads

An Illinois pastor says his church was robbed this weekend over his support for GOP gubernatorial candidate Bruce Rauner.

Polls in six key Senate races show good news for Republicans.

Elsewhere on the trail

Bill Clinton rallied supporters for Rep. Dan Maffei, D-N.Y., in one of the most competitive House races in the nation.

The Atlantic has a nice look at how national issues are affecting the North Carolina Senate race.

And since there is one week left, here's One Week.

Follow @singernews on Twitter