Here are some of the highlights in the U.S. Senate races for the week of May 5.

Colorado: Despite years of work by jailed lobbyist Jack Abramoff and U.S Senate candidate Bob Schaffer, a new law was enacted this week to prevent human-rights abuses at factories in the Mariana Islands.  During testimony on the issue several years ago, Schaffer read from Abramoff’s playbook in trying to derail a similar bill. 

Idaho: Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Larry LaRocco’s campaign office in Boise was vandalized this week, causing hundreds of dollars in damage.  In this age of high-tech campaigning, it’s easy to think first of computers and electronics that need to be replaced, but the LaRocco campaign wants us to remember that what they need more than anything is a door.  Click here to contribute to Larry LaRocco’s campaign, and they’ll add your name to their new door. 

Montana: If you’ve ever felt the need to combine your love of politics, ballet, and timber, now’s your chance.  The Montana Logging & Ballet Co. will hold a special performance to support Senator Max Baucus’ re-election bid. 

New Hampshire: Former Governor Jeanne Shaheen wrote an op-ed for the Union Leader calling on Congress to set a new course in Iraq and Afghanistan.  “It is long past time for a new course. By redeploying our troops from Iraq, refocusing our efforts on terrorist threats where they are strongest and returning to the values that have made our nation a symbol of hope and opportunity around the world, we grow stronger and make America safer,” she says.  Shaheen is maintaining a solid lead over Republican John Sununu.

North Carolina: North Carolina Democrats have nominated state Senator Kay Hagan to challenge Republican Liddy Dole for the U.S. Senate.  Hagan, a businesswoman, attorney, and mother of three who has served in the state legislature for nearly a decade, has been recognized as one of the most effective leaders in the North Carolina Senate.  Recent polls show Liddy Dole with a high 41-percent disapproval rating in the state, with fewer than half of North Carolinians saying they would vote to re-elect her. 

Oklahoma:  Oklahoma veterans blasted Republican Jim Inhofe for his shameful abandonment of the Post 9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act.  Last week, with no explanation, Inhofe withdrew his support for the bipartisan bill, which would modernize the education benefits provided to returning veterans.

Oklahoma: Meanwhile, the DSCC’s Amy Rubin visited Oklahoma and checked in with Andrew Rice’s U.S. Senate campaign.  Check out the Road To Victory Diary to catch up on Amy’s latest videos from Oklahoma. 

Oregon: Democrat Jeff Merkley rolled out his latest campaign ad and picked up two more major endorsements.  Both the Humane Society and 21st Century Democrats threw their support to Merkley, who is campaigning to replace Republican Gordon Smith in the U.S Senate.  Also, the DSCC launched an ad to set the record straight on Smith’s close association with George Bush and Washington special-interest groups.

South Dakota: Senator Tim Johnson has launched a new campaign website, featuring a great video introduction to the Senator’s life and work. 

Texas: Two new polls show Democrat Rick Noriega within striking distance – and within the margin of error – of Republican John Cornyn.  Following these polls, KTBC Austin declared, “It's time to add United States Senator John Cornyn to the list of potentially vulnerable Republican incumbents in Election 2008.” 

Virginia: Former Governor Mark Warner concluded his statewide campaign kick-off tour this week.  Warner’s campaign blog has some great television coverage from his event in Charlottesville.

Louisiana Senator Mary Landrieu made a name for herself as a hard worker and a tireless advocate for the people of her home state.  But ever since the tragedy of Hurricane Katrina, Landrieu has become known as a crusader for rebuilding the gulf coast.

In this video from the Road To Victory series, Landrieu talks about gulf coast restoration efforts, and some gulf coast residents share their thoughts on the process.

Landrieu first ran for public office after finishing college at Louisiana State University, becoming the youngest woman elected to office in the state.  She has served in the state legislature, as State Treasurer, and has been Louisiana’s U.S. Senator since 1996.  A leading Senate moderate with a track record of working across party lines to get things done for Louisiana, Senator Landrieu is co-chair of the bipartisan Senate Common Ground Coalition. The Coalition is an independent group of Senators from both parties who work together to support policies and programs that are, as Landrieu says, “not Democratic or Republican, but good for the people of our country without regard to politics or partisanship.”

For more on the Louisiana Senate race, check out our race profile page, or visit Mary Landrieu’s website. 

If you needed more evidence that Kentucky Republican Mitch McConnell isn’t interested in doing what’s right for the country, today’s news will definitely give you a clear picture of his priorities.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), said he would not allow Democrats a separate vote on each nominee and instead wanted the [Federal Election Commission] nominees voted on as a package, which would ensure approval of the most controversial GOP pick, Hans von Spakovsky. Democrats have made it clear that von Spakovsky would not pass the Senate while the other four nominees would be approved.

The FEC consists of six commissioners, and the agency needs a minimum of four commissioners to meet a quorum and issue legal opinions. Since the beginning of this year, the FEC has had only two working commissioners and has been unable to deal with everything from John McCain's public financing to every day legal opinions on campaign ads.

McConnell is using the filibuster threat – again – to hold up the process for five nominees to a six-person panel. Because of Mitch McConnell and the Roadblock Republicans, the Federal Election Commission cannot even hold a meeting, let alone make sure that candidates, campaigns, and “swiftboat” groups obey election laws.

Mitch McConnell is up for re-election this year, and he’s hoping the people of Kentucky won’t catch on to his obstructionist antics in Washington. Kentuckians deserve a Senator who works for them, instead of someone who tries at every turn to score cheap political points without regard for the consequences.

Last night, North Carolina Democrats nominated state Senator Kay Hagan to challenge Republican Liddy Dole in the U.S. Senate race. And with more than six months until election day, Dole is already in trouble; a recent poll shows Dole with a high 41% disapproval rating in North Carolina.

Beyond her sagging popularity, Dole’s legislative record will be a liability in November. She has consistently stood on the wrong side of the issues on everything from Iraq to pay equity.

• Dole Rejected Minimum Wage Hike Three Times. Dole voted three times against raising the minimum wage, despite the fact that the minimum wage had not increased since 2000. Because of the lack of action by a Republican Congress, the real value of the minimum wage fell to a 51-year low.
• Dole Voted to Keep Tax Incentives for Offshore Companies. In 2005, Dole voted against an amendment that would repeal tax incentives for domestic companies that move their manufacturing plants to offshore locations and use the resulting revenue to reduce the federal deficit and debt by $3.2 billion from 2006 to 2010.
• Dole Voted Against Unemployment Benefits for Katrina Victims. In September 2005, Dole voted against an amendment that would have provided financial relief for victims of hurricane Katrina. The amendment would have allowed up to 52 weeks of unemployment benefits for an individual who lost their job due to a major disaster, under the Disaster Unemployment Assistance Program.
• Dole Voted to Block the Bipartisan Farm Bill, Leaving Farmers in the Lurch. In November 2007, Dole voted to hold up the bipartisan Farm Bill, delaying critical safety net programs for farmers and ranchers and other programs vital to the livelihood of rural communities, causing difficulties for farmers and ranchers who need to make well-informed financing, cropping, and marketing decisions.
• And just last week, Dole voted against making it easier for victims of pay discrimination to get their day in court. By using her vote to threaten a filibuster of the Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, Dole shamefully chose partisan obstructionism over her duty to the people of North Carolina.

Hagan, on the other hand, sides with North Carolinians at every turn, and has won accolades for her effectiveness in the state Senate. And if she’s proven one thing throughout her career and her primary campaign, the more people hear about Kay Hagan, the more they like her.

For more on the North Carolina Senate race, check out our race profile page, or visit Kay Hagan’s website.

Entrenched Republican incumbents like Dole are bound to have loads more campaign money than our Democratic challengers. The DSCC's job is to level the playing field with the help of our supporters. Click here to make an immediate, secure contribution of $50, $75, or more to help our Democratic challengers.

One thing that’s kept coming up during my time in Oklahoma is the rising price of gas. Folks I met were spending $50, $70, or even $100 for a tank of gas. But it seems that Republican Jim Inhofe doesn’t realize how much the people of his state are suffering because of skyrocketing oil costs.

Inhofe has taken nearly $1 million in campaign contributions from the oil companies, and has helped to protect their profits by shielding $14 billion in tax breaks and subsidies.

Check out this video of Oklahomans talking about how gas prices are affecting their everyday lives, and how they wish Inhofe would take the issue seriously: