Action in the Land of Enchantment

Reps. Heather A. Wilson and Steve Pearce are vying to be the Republican candidate for the Senate seat held by the retiring Pete V. Domenici. (By Dean Hanson -- Albuquerque Journal Via Associated Press)

Rep. Mark Udall (D) and former representative Bob Schaffer (R) are battling it out to replace retiring Sen. Wayne Allard (R). Udall looks to be the narrow favorite right now, and Obama's demonstrated advantage could give him another boost.

Florida (Clinton advantage)

Rep. Tim Mahoney (D) is fighting to win a second term in the 16th District seat Democrats stole in 2006 after Rep. Mark Foley's (R) scandal-fueled resignation. Clinton has run much stronger than Obama among seniors and Jewish voters, and this district has plenty of both.

Kentucky (Clinton advantage)

It may be premature to call the race between Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R) against businessman Bruce Lunsford truly competitive, but it may end up in that category. At this point, Clinton is strongly outperforming Obama in the Bluegrass State.

Missouri (Clinton advantage)

This traditional bellwether state will host at least one interesting House race, as Rep. Sam Graves (R) tries to fend off former Kansas City mayor Kay Barnes (D) in a contest that has already gotten nasty. Clinton seems to be doing better than Obama in the state by the narrowest of margins.

Ohio (Clinton advantage)

The Buckeye State has been rough for the GOP in the last few years, and now Republicans are in danger of losing the seats of retiring Reps. Ralph Regula and Deborah Pryce. Clinton has made Ohio a centerpiece of her general-election argument, and she beat Obama in the Democratic primary in both districts.

PLAYERS

Old campaign hacks never go away, they just switch jobs. Case in point: Danny O'Brien, longtime chief of staff and political adviser to Sen. Joseph R. Biden Jr. (Del.), is back in the Senate as chief of staff for up-and-coming Sen. Robert Menendez (N.J.). O'Brien's roots in the Garden State go deep, as he once served as chief of staff to then-Sen. Robert G. Torricelli (N.J.). O'Brien landed with Menendez after Luis Navarro took a job as Biden's chief of staff following a stint as campaign manager in Biden's short-lived presidential bid. Ah, the circle of life.

THREE DAYS: Clinton and Obama are slated to speak to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee the day after the primary process draws to a close in South Dakota and Montana. Will Clinton still be in the race?

64 DAYS: Obama turns 47 on Aug. 4. While Obama's campaign -- and Democrats more broadly -- insist they won't make age an issue, the fact that Obama is 24 years the junior of McCain will be well-known by voters when Election Day rolls around.