it caused shockwaves because it put republican candidate joanie ernst ahead six points ahead of bruce braleyhis was a stunner as far as polling goes. take a look at the real clear politics average, ernst is ahead almost a three-point lead for joni ernst in the polling average. braley is doing badly specifically with rural voters. only 15% support him compared with 58% for ernst. one poll responded. a self-identified democrat who grows vegetables for a living in rural iowa told the register, quote, i think he has an attitude about the voters and life in general which was indicated by what he said about chuck grassley. he thinks he knows better than us. that's a democrat talking. and the thing is, it's not like the republican candidate hasn't said her share of supercontroversial things. she's talked about the minimum wage, about supporting personhood, about impeaching the president. she said a lot of the things that democrats thought they needed republican candidates say to beat republican candidates. what the most recent polling is telling us that none of what she is saying or what she has sa

democratic congressman bruce braley and republican challenger joni ernst are in a tight race that recent polling has found to be a toss-up. iowa's open seat comes after five-term democrat tom harkin announced his retirement. here's more now about the race. >> host: want to go now to iowa where jennifer jacobs is joining us on the phone, chief political reporter for "the des moines register" there to talk about thein iowa senate race. another closely-watched race for control of the senate.ate.

bruce braley stood up to those trying to privatize social security.ll protect social security for all of us.all the democratic senatorial campaign committee is responsible for the content of this advertising. >> host: jennifer jacobs, let's take that last ad by the democratic senatorial campaign committee, airing that with one week to go. what does that tell you?: >> guest: yeah. the negative ads always say that, you know, they're worried whenever you see the positive ads as an emphasis, it tells you they're pretty confident. the negative ads say they're worried, for sure.rrie and the democratic, the national democratic party is one of the the biggest players here. the senate majority pac is probably spending the most, and then, you know, there's nearly the same amount of spending on the republican side too. but ernst has been the biggest target of negative ads in iowa, more so than the democrat, bruce braley. >> host: what about the female vote here? i mean, iowa could be electingwac the first female to congress by voting for joni ernst. but is she,

bruce braley. it's almost a gift to bruce braley, these hearings are because he can go back to iowa and can do what he is being hammered for not doing, which is separating himself from the president and go back there. and i am sure that sound byte is going to be cut into an ad that may be airing already in iowa david because it gives him an opportunity. a lot of these republicans have been trying to tie an unpopular president, as you said, to the candidate against whom they are running, often sitting senators already. >> that's a big problem for democrats. it's a line that they have to tow. it's a series of local elections. so the president plays better in some places than he does in others. but balancing it right now is huge. so this does give them an opportunity to say, hey. the administration didn't do or isn't doing what they should be doing. and that's a little bit of a currency for them. >> some democrats have tried to hit back at the republicans running campaign ads related to ebola noting t

bruce braley is facing state senator joni ernst. current senator tom harkin is retiring after five terms. the race is listed as a tossup. >> joni ernst is with us. >> hoping to win one of the most hotly contested races in the nation. >> i go to washington as a mom and a soldier. >> i will work with anybody who will help solve the tough albums we face. >> the campaign is getting national headlines. >> let's make them squeal. >> all to win a key seat long held by a democrat. joni ernst taking on bruce braley. still too close to call. tonight, head to head as the country watches. decision 2014. debate for iowa's next senator. >> those of you watching are waiting to hear from candidates in the hottest, closest senate races in the u.s. history. one that experts say may determine control of the senate. they are locked in a dead heat for the seat of tom harkin. the winner will be the first new senator and 30 years for iowa. there will be questions from our panel of journalists, each with decades of experience in iowa, in a format aimed at

does that continue to haunt bruce braley and show up in his numbers?leading bruce braley by a big margin in rural areas. so that video which was seen as not only disparaging to chuck grassley but also possibly disparaging to farmers, may be in fact, a factor going forward. and it was interesting in "the des moines register's" debate with kcci-tv earlier this month, the two candidates were asked who was the first person you would call for advice if you get elected, and both of them said chuck grassley. bruce braley is saying that chuck grassley would be the first person he'd call for advice if he got elected. i think maybe that was an acknowledgment that he made a mistake by you know maybe picking on grassley a little bit earlier in the campaign. >> i'm sure chuck grassley enjoyed that moment. anyway kathie obradovich from "the des moines recommendinggister," appreciate you all joining me this morning. interesting new numbers especially out there in kansas. i'm sure i'll be talking to all of you in the homestretch. appreciate you joining us. in just 30

and it was believed that the seat bruce braley the democratic congressman trying to defend it.made fun of or in many minds denigrated iowa farmers at a shot meant for grassley not delivered in iowa. fundraiser in texas. and the 2014 sort of conservative rock star in this case joan earnst is something different. a state senator. got famous in this case about castrating hogs when she grew up as well as pistol practice one of the ads. also a vet and going very hard at the democrats' assertion that republican conservative social policy amounts to a war on women. she is a woman and a vet bruce braley has been trying to change the subject to raising the minimum wage and raising issues to the middle class. why would anybody want to go with democratic policies when barack obama hasn't been able to right the economy and bruce braley was voting along with it this is a very very close race. when it is this close and you are talking with karl rove about undecides, in iowa they make up their minds very late because this is a very very smart electorate. first in the nation caucus going on he

i am bruce braley and i approved this message. the joni ernst is so extreme she risks retirement on the stock market, ending minimum benefit. bruce braley stop to those trying to privatize social security. he will protect social security for all of us. the democratic campaign committee is responsible for the content of this advertising. >> host: jennifer let's take that last ad buy that democratic campaign committee. airing that with one week to go what does that tell you? >> guest: the negative ads always say that they are worried whenever you see the positive ads it tells you that they are pretty confident in that they are worried for sure. the national democratic party and the senate majority is probably spending the most and then there is the amount of spending on the republican side, too. but ernst has been the biggest target of the ads in iowa more so than the democrats bruce braley. >> host: iowa could be electing the first female to congress by voting for joni ernst. but is she connecting with those in iowa? >> guest: not

democrats including in iowa where the des moines register is calling the race between joni ernst and bruce braleyuote, an exhibition in american politics at a worst. ernst has a three-point lead over braley being vacated by tom harkin. cory garner moved ahead mark udall. and in arkansas republican congressman tom cotton holds a two point lead over a democratic senator fighting for re-election mark pryor. all the races are within the margin of error, as you see there. but former senior adviser to president obama david axelrod concedes it doesn't look all that good for democrats. >> if these are truly tied races, the races can be won. i suspect some will break at the end and more likely break against democrats than for democrats. >> and in two more key races with, our polls show it's a dead hit in north carolina between kay hagan and tom tillis. hagan losing the four point lead. in kansas the race appears to be breaking in senator pat roberts. he trailed by 10 points earlier this month. now morgan's lead is just 1 point. let me bring in the political panel mark murray and patricia murray. thank you

but hillary clinton with bruce braley has a lot more work to do. she is obviously a very big draw, someone who democrats are excited to see but bruce braley has run not the strongest campaign. he has a lot of work to do. that's why he needs these big name surrogates coming out to help him. >> this and they're develop showing up. i wanted to ask you if you think either or each of them has a separate message they have to drive home once they do hit the ground. >> well, they have a fumo ti-- w motives here. republicans are trying to hit democrats on issues like jobs and the economy, foreign affairs, obviously the spread of isis is a major issue. democrats like hillary clinton will have to get out there and talk about issues like medicare, social security, minimum wage. these are going to be the big issues for democrats going into the midterm elections. when you look at the surrogates they have their own personal motives. they're trying to position themselves potentially to run for president in 2016. >> you think this is a litmus test for them? >> abso

i heard and add today, bruce braley. e political victory fund incinerating you and michael bloomberg are buddies and you will take away my second amendment rights and i don't like it. what is the answer? braley: the answer is i never met michael bloomberg. i have no idea what these ads are based upon other than a fear that i am going to bring balance, common sense, to try to come up with reasonable solutions to reducing gun violence like i have, working with a republican from pennsylvania named tim murphy. we held lots of hearings this year and the connection between failure to address the needs of mental illness in this country and throughout those bipartisan hearings we learned the largest mental health treatment facility in united states is los angeles county jail. we know that we have to do more and when joni ernst was asked what we can do, she was asked about her at that she ran in the primary where she was shooting a pistol into the cameras saying let me take aim at obamacare, right before the tragic shooting in sai

hillary clinton was there yesterday for bruce braley.ne thing i'm looking at is, yes, joni ernst has a little bit of a lead but this will be a real test as to whether democrats can get out to vote to overcome the national sentiment. they have been better at it for the last few cycles. i think they are still better at it. democrats are leading in the early vote. >> democrats keep going up there and calling him bruce bailey, not bruce braley. what a mess. >> right. >> none of these people have more than 50% in the polls. gloria, yours is even more west than that to colorado. which by the way, it is shown to be dead locked. >> that's why i picked it. obama won it twice and they are like, this shouldn't be a purple state. this needs to become a blue state. now you have mark udall against cory gardner. and udall has decided to do that. cory gardener is really conservative on women's health issues. half of udall's ads have been about women's issues as he has been mocked as uterus. senator ut terus. this is the first time that the voters in the

i am bruce braley and i approve this message.ine of talk about the social security, and joni ernst talks about privatizing. so extreme she risks seniors retirement on the stock market. bruce braley stood up to those trying to privatize social security. he will protect social security for all of us. >> democratic senatorial campaign committee is responsible for the content of this ad. >> jennifer, let's take that last ad. sharing that with one week to go. does that tell you? say the negative ads always that, you know, your word. if it is a positive at -- a are tive ad says that they word for sure. the democratic national party is one of the biggest players here. then there is nearly the same amount of spending on the republican side, too. has been the biggesttarget of negative ads in iowa. >> what about the female vote here? iowa could be electing the first female to congress bby for journey ernst -- joni ernst. it's a connecting with female voters? >> some, but not as many as you would like to. in plays better with men iowa than

in iowa, comeman bruce braley and joni ernst are dead locked, 45% apiece. we speak of iowa and vice president joe biden is lending his support to bruce braley speaking at a minor league ballpark the vice president urged the democratic support towers get out the vote while offering that could be a in the hospital his own plans when it comes to 2016. >> great to be here. i don't know how you all are still standing. i tell you what. once you come up on stage with me you sit in a chair. i look out there in that field and the first thing that comes to mind is put me in coach i'm ready to play. >> some republican governors mansions may have some moving trucks coming in january. the cbs/"new york times" poll shows a tight race with rick scott in a tie with charlie crist. in michigan democrat mark schauer n-come bent rick snyder are one point apart. one point separates scott walker and his opponent. tom wolf is down double digits. >>> authorities in washington are releasing details of the school shooting that left three dead and two more hospitalized. the county sh

bruce braley supported that overreach with the epa. he is being backed by california environmentalists. he stood with the epa over iowa farmers. >> that is not true. to prohibit the epa from regulating and she knows that. she says she supports the environment but soundbites have consequences. when you say you are voting to -- you would vote to repeal the clean water act, you are saying that you don't want iowans to have clean water. you are saying you don't want anyone making sure the air is clean or water is pure. those words have consequences that are harmful to islands. -- iowans. whyknows that and that is she is supported by the koch brothers. >> would you like 30 seconds to rebut? >> i would love to rebut. i believe in a clean environment. i drive a hybrid car. my family recycles. i encourage recycling at every opportunity. i believe the federal government should not be overreaching with rules and regulations that are killing our industry in iowa and a nationwide. to make sure every rule and regulation is reasonable and still prot

bruce braley.you have got to colorado race, which i think will be one of the closest in the country. we always talk about colorado being one of the big bellwethers, it will be extremely close. senator mark udall against a public in cory gardner, so alaska is another contest that is not going to be counting its ballots on eastern time at least until midnight. polls close around midnight eastern time her that is a close race between mark begich, the democrat, and sullivan, for these -- former state attorney general purity talk about red swing states, we're talking a wide map. today" opposing this morning that we do not know who controls the senate on november 5, and we might not know for a number of days or weeks. guest: so many interesting provisions with each of these races, and louisiana it is extremely likely that landrieu will be headed into a one-on-one runoff that will not be decided until december. she is not looking in terrific shape. her numbers are not very good, but even she does very poo

c-span's campaign 2014 coverage continues this evening live from iowa, where democratic congressman bruce braley squares off against joni ernst. live at 8:00 p.m. eastern here on c-span. a debate from the michigan governor's race. incumbent rick snyder against live at mark schauer, 6:00 p.m. eastern on c-span. >> this weekend on the c-span networks -- tonight at 9:00 p.m., colin powell talks about world affairs. sunday evening at 8:00 on "q&a," robert timber talks about how as a marine in vietnam a landmine explosion nearly killed him and changed his life. tonight on "afterwords," atul gawande on why he feels medical science should do more for the aging and dying. free-marketein on capitalism and its impact on climate change. tonight on american history tv war,span3, king george's how it helped establish regional identities and a viable fighting experience for the american revolution. and sunday night, president ford 's congressional testimony on the nixon pardon. find our television schedule at www.c-span.org, and let us know what you are thinking about the programs you are watching. call us, e

she's running against bruce braley. this is a high profile race because it's been tight as a tick for months. right now before election day joni ernst turns out to have a sharon angle problem. a piece of tape has emerged where joni ernst like sharon angle before her is threatening to turn to armed violence against the government if she doesn't get what she wants through the political process. this was first published by the huffington post. it shows joni ernst addressing the crowd at an nra event in 2012. >> i have a beautiful little smith & wesson, my millimeter and it goes with me virtually everywhere. i do believe in the right to carry. and i believe in the right to defend myself and my family, whether it's from an intruder or whether it's from a government should they decide that my rights are no longer important. i believe in my right to defend myself from the government with my beautiful little smith & wesson, 9 millimeter. this raises a specific question for this now u.s. senate candidate, in what situation exact

. >> i am bruce braley and i approved this message. >> take a closer look at joni ernst. in the state senate, she sponsored an amendment to outlaw abortion, even in cases of rape or insist. ernst even wants criminal punishment for doctors who perform an abortion. >> the providers should be punished. >> joni ernst. radical ideas wrong for iowa. >> expecting her to propel -- fulfill campaign promises. >> she was to shut down the department of education and abolish the eba. that is -- epa. that is why the extremist koch brothers want her in washington. >> joni ernst. to them too extreme for us. the league of conservation voters is responsible for this ad. >> i get very upset. >> are you ready to apologize? >> the individual had no call it education. >> i find it ironic that -- there is hardly anybody -- i get very upset. >> there is no towel service. >> a farmer from iowa who never went to law school. >> you don't have a masters or phd in health care policy. >> one of the most important places i go is to the house jim. -- gym. it have you published any articles in a peer-rev

bruce braley trailing by three points. they go back and forth. she's up right now. >> she's up right now. clearly she has a trend at this point. we have a week to go. i can give you plenty of examples of republicans up in 2010 and 2012. when election day game because the democratic ground game democrats came out on top. too close to call. >> thank you. put me in coach, that doesn't mean i'm running for office. hannah, thank you. >>> another hot political topic. the stop bill march from speaking campaign at the university of california berkeley. a group of students gathering signatures to keep the popular host from giving the commencement speech after his controversial comments about islam. >> the only religion that acts like the mafia that will [ expletive ] kill you if you say the wrong thing, draw the wrong picture, or write the wrong book. >> this is the "newsnation" gut check. we center thave two guests on b sides. >>> vanished. a colorado father is missing for four days after disappearing from a crowded nfl game. the new search on the new de

he was there actually campaigning for bruce braley.ng for joni ernst. >> this is a bonus for the republicans. they originally didn't count this one as one they had to win. they had six other ones of embattled democrats. alaska, arkansas, louisiana, north carolina, west virginia, and south dakota. that they could win quite easily. they thought. but the field has changed. there are other seats opening up. >> colorado as well. >> right. here's the thing on the big picture with these two expert pollsters, doug and pat. have you ever seen a time when almost every incumbent, both republican and democrat, is so low? they're all under 50. >> let me try to offer a little perspective quickly. first, it reflects the anger and alienation of the electorate. second, it reflects the disinterest. and polls jump around when people really don't care that much, which is what we're seeing here. hence you can get polls from plus 6 to plus 1 because voters are just really saying a plague on both your houses and a movement in some states to independence. >>

remember that bruce braley apologized to senator grassley almost immediately after that clip came outn march, but there have been more than a dozen gop attack ads trying to keep it fresh in voters' minds so it's just been very hard for him to overcome that sort of mitt romney's 47% comment. >> so, let's talk about joni ernst. we watched her ads where she talked about castrating hogs and it's gotten a lot of national attention but how is that playing in iowa? >> she was virtually unknown one year ago, and now our polling shows that she's better known with likely voters than bruce braley who is an eight-year congressman, so clearly those ads are breaking through. >> so, where are people placing their bets on who wins this race in iowa? >> ernst has led pretty consistently in the last few polls, but this race is a coin toss. >> thanks very much, jennifer. >>> and it's not just the senate at stake on election night. 36 governor seats are up for grabs, and a critical race down in florida, which could have huge implications for 2016, incumbent republican rick scott is facing off against for

now, let me say that one more time, bruce braley. >> joining me now is jess mcintosh. d someone get fired for the bruce bailey screw up last time? it wasn't just michelle obama. >> maybe it was a tell prompter thing. bailly is a pretty common name. >>> now, you have a real figure in the polls for this. you guys have a particular outcome you want to see. but you have been working on this. this race seems to me to be tightening in every way. i mean, every race, even new hampshire, where it seems shhine should be winning fairly handedly. but there's two polls since everyone's written it off. it just seems like this race is actually really, really close across the board. >> this race has been really, really close. we have kentucky senate race for a long time. it's honestly one of the dumbest and most data-free things that i have seen happen since i started working in campaigns. she has kept him under 50% and more or less within the margin of error for, like, 24 of her last public polls. her own pollster has her up two. this race has been alive. it is alive. i guess i'm happ

a look at the ads running in iowa. >> i'm bruce braley and i approve this message. closer look at joni ernst. senate, ernst sponsored an amendment to outlaw abortion, even in cases of rape or incest. ernst even wants criminal punishment for doctors who perform an abortion. ideas, wrongadical for iowa. >> joni ernst promises to shut the department of education, hurting iowa students, abolish the epa, giving polluters a pass. wants why sarah palin ernst in washington. joni ernst. promises to them. too extreme for us. league of voters is responsible for this advertising. >> i get very upset. are you ready to apologize? >> you're damn right! >> that individual had no college education. ironic that there's this big push to shut down the house. any advanceve degrees in economics? there's hardly anybody working there. >> there's no towel service. >> a farmer from iowa. school.r went to law >> we're doing our own laundry down there. master's or have a ph.d. in health care policy. >> one of the most important gym.s i go is to the house >> have you published any

. >> bruce braley not very iowa. >> i called her a week or so ago, a joyous candidate, she's traveled all across the country, i saw today on twitter that she had a map and she's completed it all today. you see some optimism from some of the republican candidates, they're not angry, they're joy us, they're optimistic. >> i think that was a war on chickens. >> are you against chickens? >> i eat them. i am eating them now. >> iowa has traditionally -- >> he's state offing it for his requirement, can he do that? >> i like joni ernst, i think she's fantastic and we need more like that in the party. >> the pig -- look, dana's right. >> remember when bruce braley, michelle obama and i have something in common. remember at the beginning of the campaign, he said senator grassl grassley, he dissed him as a farmer, which is not something you should probably do in iowa when you're running for senate. >> if this things comes have been close, it could go one seat either way in louisiana, it becomes a runoff because one contender dropped out, no one would get 50%. that's when they decided december 6

he was there actually campaigning for bruce braley.mpaigning for joni ernst. >> this is a bonus for the republicans. they originally didn't count this one as one they had to win. they had six other ones of embattled democrats 37 alaska, arkansas, louisiana, north carolina, west virginia, and south dakota. that they could win quite easily. they thought. but the field has changed. there are other seats opening up. >> colorado as well. >> right. here's the thing on the big picture with these two expert pollsters, doug and pat. have you ever seen a time when almost every incumbent, both republican and democrat, is so low? they're all under 50. >> let me try to offer a little perspective quickly. first, it reflects the anger and alienation of the electorate. second, it reflects the disinterest. and polls jump around when people really don't care that much, which is what we're seeing here. hence you can get polls from plus 6 to plus 1 because voters are just really saying a plague on both your houses and a movement in some states to independ

the republicans will look to have a good night next tuesday. >> rarely. >> bruce braley. >> braley. i got it. he nailed it. >> i didn't. colorado, the governor race there. look at this, monica. what's going to happen there. the republican now ahead of the incumbent. >> yeah. again, this is all part of a much bigger wave, dare i say? i don't want to count anybody's chickens before they hatch next week, but it does look like in a state like colorado which had been red, then it was purple, and now liens blue, to have republicans like cory gardener and others, other republicans and frankly conservatives running ahead in that state, tells you where the country is at across the board. >> connecticut, a dead heat right now. although that's good news for tom foley because he was a little bit behind the republican in that race against the incumbent, malloy. >> also, that is remarkable. connecticut is a state in the northeast. reliably a blue state. the fact that the republican is so competitive there, as is the republican running for governor in massachusetts, just came back from illinois la

bruce braley played that car all over again all year long.and the difference is, he's running against a woman. joni is also a member of the national guard and commands the biggest battalion here in iowa and did serve in iraq and she understands war and understands women better than braley and wrapping up a 99 county tour. and i talked to her this morning. >> they understand what i said in the primary election, you know that night. this is not a war on women. if anybody is making it a war, it is the democrat because they pushed obama care and with obama care, young women are having a difficult time finding affordable health care policies. that is a war on women. and they are forced in a policy and not able to choose what doctor they want. >> she's not giving an inch and gaining ground in the polls. and she wraps up the 99 county tour she will have covered the state. and the democrats are trying to sound defendant that bruce braley can pull it off. iowa was one of the three states identified as a fire wall. and the other two in north carolina a

one of the candidates warren helped over the weekend is iowa democrat bruce braley. it also provided an opportunity for republican groups to attack braley as too far to the left. >> bruce braley has been in wash for eight years. he's voted for obamacare and backed obama's amnesty plan for illegals. backed obama's plan 97% of the time. >>> answering questions about ebola, several democrats, health care preparedness budgets. barbara lee, running for reelection in northern california, appeared on real time with bill maher. >> cut the budget 47% for hospital preparedness cut nih and cdc. we have to recognize the state of our health care system. >> it's possibly not a bad point to make. >>> mid terms campaigning has now begun and today president obama cast his early ballot in chicago. at the polling location, mr. obama seemed a bit confused. ♪ >> this is your exercise. >> i'm going to be going back this way? this machine? this one? this one? come on help me out. >> this machine, that machine? the perils of having so many handlers around you, you're used to giving pretty e

. >> bruce braley got in big trouble earlier in the year essentially disparaging chuck grassley on video. wouldn't want chuck grassley as chairing the judiciary committee because he's an iowa farmer who inner went to law school. >> the iowa farm bureau endorsed ernst and the ad became fodder for a campaign against him. >> chuck grassley is the most popular politician in the state. his approval ratings are generally higher than tom harkin's. >> tom harkin is using his plairpt to get behind -- popularity to get behind bruce braley. >> we saw the poll and always knew it was going to be a close race. first time in 40 years the seat's been open. the campaign my friends is not over with, it's just begun. >> how the campaign ends here in the hawkeye state might hit the delicate balance on capitol hill. michael okwu, al jazeera, des moines. >> and we'll keep a sharp eye focused on iowa's race as well as the other battle ground states as we continue to watch, america votes, 2014. after the break here tonight, a creative movement, how motion detectors are giving a creative outlet to the disabled.

and that will be bruce braley. we begin with a question from social media. the quad city times, t.a. rosa writes, i am sick and tired of politicians skirting the issues and not providing plans as to how they attack issues rather than their opponent. i want a result oriented politics not the ideology of dividing and then blaming the other side. the problems facing american families today will require the best ideas from everyone to solve. how will you work across party lines and how should the people of iowa measure your progress? one minute, please. >> thank you. i want to thank the quad city times and qwqc for hosting us tonight here at st. ambrose and i thank everyone watching here tonight and watching on television. thank you, senator. great question, rosa. i am sick and tired of politicians who won't work across the aisle, too. i am here tonight to talk about my proven record of doing just that. eight years of working with anyone who has a good idea for iowa and i have a proven record to back it up. the first bill i introduced was to create a job partner

they all did. >> joe biden is giving support to bruce braley.f that continues, and bide someone a candidate, it could have been one of those endorsements. >> have you noted a clinton affect here for braley? >> you know, the clintons together were at tom harkin's fry, it will only be a clinton affect if they win. >> david, michael, appreciate it. good to see you. >>> colorado is one of the critical battle grounds for control of the senate. the contest there is one of the closest and most expensive in the country. a key to a win could be how the state's latinos vote. >> democrats and their suppor supporters are pounding the pavement. >> and in colorado the democratic parties most important foot soldiers and targets are latinos. >> none of the states considered in play have a significant latino population except one. here in colorado the latino vote could prove decisive. democratic senator mark udall probably can't hold off a challenge from cory gardner without strong latino support, but there are signs that he has it. a recent poll shows 66% of co

obama calls him bruce braley in iowa.llis trails by 1 point behind kay hagan and new hampshire where scott brown trails in the real clear politics average by 2.2% behind incumbent jean shaheen. these are the most competitive races. >> brown has closed a lot of ground. he was double digit down three weeks ago. in the real clear politics average in the beginning of the month. he was 4% down. now is he 2.2% down. that's real measurable movement. the question there is how much more road does he have? there is 7% undecided in the real clear politics average. that's less than most of the other states that we are looking at where there is 10 or 12% undecided. >> how can new hampshire elect kelly ayotte shaheen fairly liberal woman? how does that stack up? >> she was a reasonably effective governor. and then when she went to the, she moved hard left and that's why she is in a horse race. this weekend they had a debate and she showed her peek in it and he schooled her in the close. she interrupted him during his close and rather t

republican state senator joni earnst battling bruce braley. >> this could be a turning point for the united states of hurricane. >> i think this race, bruce's race is especially important. >> joni earnst is not on your side. >> it is going to take all of us pulling together to unite this party. >> i stand on the side of awians. >> every one of you get out and vote. >> have a straight talk. it's going to come down to get out the vote. >> and the a.p.'s catherine lucy is live in des moines. catherine, this one is a nail biter. what story? who is up earnst braley or is this within the margin of error? >> you know like most people of iowa i'm on the edge of me seat too. this is so close. the polls all show this just razor then going in the last couple of days. touring the state, blanketing the airways ware waives with positive and. senator john mccain. bruce braley has president obama in tomorrow. and this is is the the first time iowa has had an open senate seat in decades. and they are desperately trying to pull out all the stops to close this deal. >> all right, well president obama to

in one of the tightest races she's locked in a fight with congressman bruce braley in the battle for iowa senate seat. a race that could determine control of the senate. >> pretty soon you'll want to do this to your tv. >> reporter: dan sullivan running against mark begich in alaska. shooting guns popped up in ads all over the country, including from democrats, too. including this one from the candidate in a tough battle with mitch mcconnell in a kentucky race. >> mitch, that's not how you hold a gun. >> reporter: ads that have gone viral like this one from americans for shared prosperity. >> in 2008, i fell in love. his online profile made him seem so perfect. but by 2012, our relationship of in trouble, but i stuck with him because he promised he'd be better. he's great at promises. >> reporter: yes, the president as a bad boyfriend. >> it's gotten over half a million views but still got panned as sexist. but no ad has gotten slammed this cycle as this one from wendi davis, the democratic candidate running for governor in texas. her opponent, greg abbott was paralyzed in a freak ac

and bruce braley who is also a longtime lawyer. nobody wants to vote for a lawyer or harvard fancy man, so you get candidates that insist they're just down home folk. joining me former governor of vermont dr. howard dean also msnbc contributor. i'm fascinated by this genre of ad because talking with joe manchin who came from very successful business, made a lot of money, the hair cut ad, even mitt romney talking about shooting varmint. affectation. >> it's related to the tea party phenomenon. they're not all right-wing nut jobs. these ads are effective. not every one will be effective. romney's not effective because nobody believes it. >> that was his problem. he couldn't overturn that image. >> but if you don't know the candidate and have a persona that comes out on television, the most important thing is be genuine. >> do you think that's true? >> yes. >> this is how it reads. joni ernst is a great example. the hog castration ad, i didn't know about joni ernst except that she grew up on a farm castrating hogs. >> part of it is br