Here are some of the highlights in the U.S. Senate races for the week of May 12.

Alaska: Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich shared his first-hand experience with global warming in a column for the Huffington Post. 

Colorado: It must still be 2008, because Republican Bob Schaffer has put his foot in his mouth once again.  This time, it was a campaign ad about his “Colorado life,” proudly featuring a famous Alaska landmark.  

Colorado: Meanwhile, Democrat Mark Udall has hit the airwaves with a new campaign ad, outlining the challenges we face when it comes to fixing the country’s energy policies.

Iowa: Senator Tom Harkin has posted a web video talking about the passage of the Farm Bill that’s so important to Iowans.  Harkin is also asking people to sign a petition urging George Bush to back down from his veto threat. 

Maine: A poll released today shows Democrat Tom Allen closing in on Susan Collins.  Allen has gained six points in the last month, as more and more Mainers have heard his message, and have learned about Susan Collins’ pro-Bush positions and her failure to live up to her responsibilities in the Senate. 

Nebraska: Rancher and teacher Scott Kleeb was chosen by Nebraska Democrats to challenge serial job-hopper Mike Johanns for the Senate seat being vacated by Chuck Hagel.  Kleeb’s impressive grassroots organization and his message of change will give Nebraska voters a real choice this November. 

New Mexico: Democrat Tom Udall has launched a brand-new website.  Also, polls released this week show Udall with a commanding lead over both his potential Republican rivals. 

Oklahoma: Amy Rubin brings us the latest videos from the Road To Victory.  Check out the footage from her trip to Oklahoma. 

Texas: Recent polls have shown Republican John Cornyn to be vulnerable this year, especially if the right Democrat steps forward to challenge him.  A news broadcast from a Dallas-Fort Worth television station shows why Rick Noriega just might be the kind of candidate who can defeat Cornyn.

For years, Maine Republican Susan Collins was in a unique position to make sure that contractors in Iraq would be held accountable for waste and fraud. But as chair of the committee overseeing the contracts, Collins fell down on the job.

WGME TV has some good coverage of the issue, with Democrat Tom Allen connecting the dots between waste and fraud, and the mismanagement of the war that has led to escalating violence in Iraq.

Tom Allen has consistently opposed the Bush administration’s Iraq policies, and has called for greater accountability for those who led us into war, and those who continue to defraud taxpayers and jeopardize American lives. Click here to watch a video of Tom Allen explaining his Iraq war positions.

For more on the Maine race, check out our race profile page, or visit Tom Allen’s website.

What does it take to convince a global warming skeptic that we’re facing a real challenge, and that it’s time to take action?  Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich answers that question in a blog entry on the Huffington Post:

I pulled out a photo of me as a child by the Portage Glacier with three of my siblings, and the ice was just ten feet from me. Then I went out to the same location with my then three-year-old son, Jacob, and took a photo of Jacob. I literally couldn't see the ice. What happened to me in that moment was truly life-changing.

The evidence was right there in those two pictures. I went back to Anchorage and I started to act.

Begich, who is challenging Republican Ted Stevens in this year’s U.S. Senate race, has committed Anchorage to supporting groups working on climate change issues, and has brought many energy-efficient solutions to his city.  Working with other mayors in Southcentral Alaska, Begich is helping Alaska find new and better conservation, development, and energy policies.  Almost overnight, Begich has become a state and regional leader on one of the most important issues facing Alaska and the United States.

Click here to read the full column.

For more on the Alaska race, check out our race profile page, or visit Mark Begich’s website.

The DSCC has released a new web ad highlighting some of Colorado Republican Bob Schaffer's problems, beyond his recent struggle with basic geography.

A new poll conducted by Research 2000 shows that Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich leads Republican Senator Ted Stevens in Alaska by 5 points, 48% to 43%.  Begich has a favorable rating of 52% in the poll, with only 25% viewing him unfavorably.  Stevens’ favorability, on the other hand, is only 38%, with a full 58% viewing him unfavorably, including 24% who view him very unfavorably.  Begich leads by a commanding 20 points among independents, 56% to 36%.

Begich announced his candidacy for the Senate just last month.  The poll of 600 likely voters was conducted May 12 through May 14.  You can view the full poll here.