Politico.com: on Environment

Alison Grimes: OpEd: Disdain for the EPA, but better choice for greens

Grimes doesn't offer much for the green community to rally behind. She has criticized Pres. Obama for taking "direct aim at Kentucky's coal industry" and faulted proposed EPA carbon dioxide controls of existing power plants. Those positions aren't likely to be controversial in the nation's No. 3 coal producing state, but they don't mix well with the agenda of environmental groups.

McConnell has increasingly taken aim at the Obama administration's climate agenda, including chiding EPA at a public "listening session" at the agency's Washington headquarters. But before groups such as the Sierra Club dole out campaign funds, they first want to make sure that Grimes is close enough to their camp to overlook the differences.

Chris McDaniel: Supported Katrina relief, but some funds were misspent

Pressed on the 2005 Katrina bill specifically, he conceded: "I probably would have supported it," adding that "some of the money [in the Katrina bill] was misspent." When it comes to government spending, he argued, "It's one thing to provide immediate storm relief and to protect people's lives and property, it's quite another to benefit campaign supporters."

Asked whether there was a specific instance of government abuse he had in mind, McDaniel responded: "Not that I can say. I think the people of the coast understand that some of the money was misspent," he said. "I'm not alleging that Sen. Cochran misspent it."

A campaign spokesman reached out the morning after the interview to "clarify that Chris would've been a yes vote on the disaster bill.

Don Blankenship: AdWatch: Year in prison for contaminating drinking water

Last week, the newly-formed super PAC began airing TV ads targeting Blankenship, who spent one year behind bars following a deadly 2010 explosion at his Upper Big Branch Mine. The national party isn't promoting its role in the group but its fingerprints are all over it.

The 30-second commercials, which the group is spending nearly $700,000 to air, accuse Blankenship's company of contaminating drinking water by pumping "toxic coal slurry," even as the multimillionaire installed a piping system that pumped clean water to his mansion. "Isn't there enough toxic sludge in Washington?" the narrator intones.

Blankenship last month issued a statement saying he was well aware of the possibility that party leadership could target him.

Katie McGinty: Chaired Pres. Clinton's Council on Environmental Quality

"I strongly endorse Katie McGinty for governor," Gore said in a statement released by McGinty's campaign. "She shares my belief that we can build a better country and improve the lives of hard-working families. Katie has always viewed environmental challenges as economic opportunities. She knows how to create jobs--while protecting the environment. And she has the intellect, leadership skills, and optimistic, can-do attitude to build a better and more prosperous Pennsylvania."

Aside from a five-year stint atop the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, McGinty's political resume draws largely from her work with Gore and in the White House.