NEBRASKA: State Sen. Deb Fischer’s “late surge, perhaps unprecedented in modern-day Nebraska political history, upended a Senate race that appeared to be settled as recently as 10 days ago with the GOP prize within the grasp of Nebraska Attorney General Jon Bruning,” the Lincoln Journal Star writes. “Fischer suddenly gained momentum with late endorsements from 2008 Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin and Rep. Jeff Fortenberry of Lincoln, then rode the momentum of a weekend TV ad blitz mounted by Ameritrade founder Joe Ricketts and his political action committee. The super PAC ads purchased by Ending Spending supported Fischer and roughed up Bruning with attacks on his character and ethical behavior as attorney general. Within days, his support collapsed and the race was scrambled.”
VIRGINIA: “A prosecutor's bid to become the first openly gay judge in Virginia was stymied by state conservatives on Tuesday,” the New York Daily News writes. “The state's General Assembly voted 33-31 to make Tracy Thorne-Begland a district court judge in Richmond. Thorne-Begland needed 51 votes to nab the appointment. Republicans cast all 31 votes against him. Conservatives argued that Thorne-Begland's outspoken support of gay rights would have prevented him from being impartial on the bench.”