Atlanta Journal Constitution | Aaron Sheinin

Not surprisingly, there is near unanimity among Republicans: They’d opt-out, and fast, and the entire exercise is a “boondoggle,” as Republican Karen Handel, the current secretary of state, put it. Only state Rep. Austin Scott (R-Tifton) added he would study the bill’s effects before deciding, “just to make sure we understand the consequences prior to the signing of any legislation.”

Real Clear Politics | Mike Memoli

Public Policy Polling (D) revisits the Missouri Senate race today, an in the expected matchup of Secretary of State Robin Carnahan (D) and Rep. Roy Blunt (R), the result is just where it was at the start of the year.

General Election Matchup
Carnahan 43 (-2 vs. last poll, 1/10-11)
Blunt 42 (-2)
Und 15 (+4)

*Swing State Project | MO-Sen: Carnahan Leads Blunt By 1

*The Hill | Is the environment buoying Blunt?

*Politics Daily | Carnahan, Blunt Are Neck-and-Neck in Race for Missouri Senate Seat

Fox News | Serafin Gomez

Marco Rubio has no scheduled meeting with Palin, who will be in Jacksonville, Orlando and The Villages retirement community on Tuesday, but the former Florida House speaker’s spokesman said the campaign would fully appreciate support from the former Alaska governor and best-selling author.

*Gainesville Sun | Crist faces a tougher primary as luster dulls

The State | Staff reports

First lady Jenny Sanford is supporting Lexington state Rep. Nikki Haley for governor, Sanford said in a letter of support released by the Haley campaign.

Sanford, who helped manage her husband Gov. Mark Sanford’s campaigns for Congress and governor, said Haley stands out in the five- candidate Republican field mainly for her history of fiscal conservatism and her advocacy of government restructuring.

Bloomberg | By Jonathan Salant and Henry Goldman

Nov. 19 (Bloomberg) — Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who lost a bid for the 2008 Republican presidential nomination, is considering running for the U.S. Senate next year against freshman Democrat Kirsten Gillibrand, current and former Republican officials said.

Giuliani, 63, doesn’t intend to run for governor of New York in the 2010 campaign, the two people said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Rasmussen Report

State Attorney General Jerry Brown is the only major Democrat still running for governor of California next year, and now he’s tied with Republican hopeful Meg Whitman at 41% each in the latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey in the state.

*GOP 12

*Swing State Project

CQ Politics | Poll Tracker

Fifty-one percent of voters disapprove of the job Patrick is doing in his first term, including majorities of Republicans and independents; 42 percent approve. Just 32 percent of voters think Patrick deserves to be re-elected, wile 55 percent say it is time to elect someone else. The margin of error is 4 percent.

Patrick, however, leads in a three-way race against independent Tim Cahill, the state’s current treasurer, and either of two prospective Republican candidates. Against Republican businessman Christy Mihos, Patrick takes 36 percent of the vote while Cahill nabs 26 percent and Mihos comes in at 20 percent. Eighteen percent remain undecided.

Boston Globe | Mihos campaign coming up short in funds

Chicago Sun Times | Lynn Sweet

Democratic Party leaders in Washington — and the Obama White House — failed to recruit a candidate strong enough to scare Rep. Mark Kirk — the Republicans’ best bet — from the race. The only luck they had was the decision by Sen. Roland Burris — appointed by now-indicted former Gov. Rod Blagojevich to fill Obama’s remaining term — not to run to keep the seat.

*News Max | Dems Could Lose Obama Senate Seat

*Newser | Dems May Lose Obama’s Old Senate Seat

USA Today | USA TODAY’s Congress Team

Ohio’s Democratic Gov. Ted Strickland has a fight on his hands.

A Quinnipiac University Poll released today shows Strickland and his Republican challenger John Kasich in a dead heat in the 2010 governor’s race, 40% to 40%.

The poll found Ohio voters believe Kasich is better qualified to rebuild the state economy and handle the budget.

An earlier poll, taken in September, found Strickland leading Kasich, 46% to 36%.

Philadelphia Bulletin | Dems Fade In Ohio Senate Race

Austin Scott for Governor of Georgia

Scott campaign: Candidate’s walk around Ga. longest ever by politician