American Crossroads makes $40 million ad buy

American Crossroads gets ready for the fall, Mitt Romney stays in GOP territory in Colorado, a Democrat drops out and Dick Durbin says Jesse Jackson Jr. needs to explaim himself.

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WHAT YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED:

* American Crossroads has reserved $40 million in air time for the final two months of the campaign. Florida is at the top with $10.2 million, followed by Ohio with $7 million, Virginia with $6.5 million, North Carolina with $4.2 million, Colorado with $3.5 million, Iowa with $3.2 million, New Hampshire with $2.7 million and Nevada with $2.2 million.

* Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D) released a new ad today in the Wisconsin Senate race, in which says being raised by her grandparents means “when people in Washington talk about slashing Medicare benefits, instead of asking millionaires to pay their fair share, I know it’s wrong.”

* Texas is the latest state to opt out of an expanded Medicaid after the Supreme Court ruled that the federal government could not compel participation in the more generous program. Gov. Rick Perry (R) said adding more people to the low-income insurance program “is not unlike adding a thousand people to the Titanic.”

* Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) told reporters today that Rep. Jesse Jackson (D-Ill.) “will have to soon make a report on what he’s struggling with, the physical condition he’s struggling with.” The House member has been on a medical leave of absence since June 10 for “exhaustion.”

WHAT YOU SHOULDN’T MISS:

* The House Ethics Committee is moving forward with an investigation into whether Rep. Shelley Berkley (D-Nev.) advocated for policies that would help her husband’s medical practice. Berkley is running against Sen. Dean Heller (R), and outside groups have already attacked her over the issue.

* Former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney is headed to Aspen, Colorado tonight for a fundraiser, his third trip to the state. Tuesday he will hold a rally in Grand Junction. The Denver Post notes that the GOP nominee has stuck to Republican-friendly territory in the state, rather than suburban metro swing territory.

* The Sierra Club is launching a six-figure ad campaign attacking former Rep. Heather Wilson (R) as she runs for Senate in New Mexico. The first ad, “Natural Resources,” hits her for a vote on liability for water contamination. The League of Conservation Voters has also targeted Wilson, who faces Rep. Martin Heinrich (D).

* Sarah Steelman is going negative in the Missouri Senate primary, attacking fellow Republican John Brunner for a donation his family’s foundation made to an animal rights group. The ad then touts Steelman, the former state treasurer. She emphasizes her pro-life and anti-gay marriage credentials and adds, “I love to hunt.” The winner of the primary — Rep. Todd Akin is another contender — will face Sen. Claire McCaskill (D). It’s Steelman’s second ad.

* Arkansas House candidate Ken Aden (D) has dropped out of the race against Rep. Steve Womack (R) after the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette found that he had exaggerated his military record. It’s too late for Democrats to field a new candidate, but the party never had much of a chance at this GOP seat.

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