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New Mexico’s campaign finance laws will change soon-after the Modterm election. Until then, the candidates running to governor are taking advantage of the current law.

After a grueling primary campaign, it looks like Democrats have finally found a gubernatorial front-runner just days before the primary. A Detroit Free Press/WXYZ-Channel 7 poll has shown Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero has taken an eight point lead over Secretary of State Andy Dillon over registered voters and a 12 point lead over likely voters.

In a state crippled by the recession, Bernero has won over many undecided voters on the strength of the Lansing economy, which in turn has translated into endorsements from several unions such as the AFL-CIO, UAW, AFSCME, American Federation of Teachers Michigan and UFCW. Bernero also leads Dillon among pro-choice voters, and he has secured the endorsements from high-profile environmental groups including the Sierra Club, Clean Water Action, and the Michigan League of Conservation Voters. Put all three groups together and you get three of the biggest constituencies of the Democratic base and a front runner in the Democratic Michigan gubernatorial primary.

While the media has been playing up the doom and gloom for Democrats this election season, a new set of polling data from the University of New Hampshire has things looking up for the majority party in New Hampshire. As Steve Peoples writes for CQ Politics, in New Hampshire’s 1st Congressional District, incumbent Carol Shea-Porter has quietly taken a small 44%-39% lead over former Manchester Mayor Frank Guinta. As UNH pollster Andy Smith explains, she’s done so through “improved favorability ratings and her opponents' inability to raise their profiles during the summer.”

While New Hampshire’s 2nd Congressional District seems like the most likely pick-up for Republicans, it appears the race might be getting closer than the numbers suggest. Currently, the same UNH poll shows former Rep. Charlie Bass leading both Katrina Swett and Ann McLane-Kuster by about 17 points. However, Peoples notes that since entering the race in February, Bass’ net favorability ratings have dropped 25 points. And with about 23% of voters still undecided, there will be room for the Democratic candidate to make up ground.

Finally, if Swett and McLane-Kuster need any inspiration in making up ground, they need to look no further than the candidate they are looking to replace in the House. Paul Hodes, the current representative of New Hampshire’s 2nd district has closed the gap in his Senate bid. A Public Policy Polling release showed Hodes trailing ex-Attorney General Kelly Ayotte by just three points. While Hodes still has work to do, this poll comes less than three months after the Sarah Palin-endorsed Ayotte had a 15 point lead over Rep. Hodes.

Jim Provance wrote a great article for the Toledo Blade highlighting how competitive the Ohio House of Representatives will be, and how tough it will be for Democrats to maintain their 53-46 majority. What the article doesn’t mention is that the reason it is so important for Dems to retain their legislative majority (and re-elect Ted Strickland) is that the House will play a very important role in the redistricting process, one that will almost certainly eliminate one to two Congressional seats from the Ohio delegation. It is just another reminder why down ballot races will prove to be so important this November.