John Boehner Stands Behind Representative Upton

Michigan Rep. Fred Upton is facing a tough challenge in the upcoming election from former state representative Jack Hoogendyk, a Tea Party Republican looking to unseat the House Energy and Commerce Committee chairman, but at least John Boehner’s got his back. The speaker of the House defended Upton on Wednesday against recent ads attacking his record. “Chairman Upton has done a marvelous job as chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee, led the effort to repeal Obamacare, led the effort to expose Solyndra, and he’s got as conservative a voting record as—as you’ll find,” Boehner declared. “Frankly, I think he’s done a marvelous job on behalf of Republicans here in the House.”

Rove Group Attacks Democratic Congressman in Iowa Ad

Crossroads Grassroots Policy Strategies, a conservative group founded by Karl Rove, attacked Rep. Leonard Boswell for his “reckless spending record” in a new ad airing Thursday in Iowa. Boswell, an Iowa Democrat, is up against fellow Rep. Tom Latham, a Republican. Formerly from separate districts, the two representatives have been pitted against one another for the same seat thanks to redistricting. The ad, which cost $77,000 in total, depicts Boswell riding in a hot-air balloon with President Obama and calls the federal stimulus bill, which Boswell supported, “$825 million in wasted spending.”

Brown Beating Warren in Two Massachusetts Polls

Massachusetts Sen. Scott Brown is leading Elizabeth Warren, according to a Rasmussen survey of likely Massachusetts voters. The first Rasmussen Reports poll since the start of Brown’s reelection season found the incumbent Republican carrying 49 percent of the potential vote, with 44 percent supporting Warren. Brown was also the winner of a Mass Insight poll, carried out by Opinion Dynamics, a Cambridge-based firm. That survey saw Brown with a 10 percent lead over Warren, with 54 percent of those polled saying they’d vote for Brown today. The two candidates have highlighted the warring sides in the ongoing contraception controversy.

Afghan War Vet Joins Minnesota Senate Race

Minnesotan Pete Hegseth launched his Senate campaign Thursday with a video explaining that he’s joining the race a bit late because he just got back from Afghanistan. The 31-year-old Republican, an Army National Guard veteran, seeks to unseat incumbent Amy Klobuchar, a Democrat with a stellar approval rating. He also faces a Republican challenger in former representative Dan Severson.