Today’s installment of campaign-related news items from across the country.

* With 43 days remaining in the midterm election cycle, Democrats have reason to be optimistic about their chances, but there’s still one thing that might turn things around for Republicans in the closing weeks: money.

“Advertisers supporting Republicans across 10 key Senate races have spent more than $204 million in the first 18 days of September, according to AdImpact — $83 million more than those helping Democrats,” The Wall Street Journal reported. “It is a sharp turn upward from all of August, when the Republican spending advantage was about $9 million.”

The article added, “The onslaught could help Republicans level the playing field as they seek to overcome President [Donald] Trump’s unpopularity and voter discontent with economic malaise and climbing fuel prices.”

* Among the key beneficiaries of recent Republican election spending is Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who appears to be trailing in his U.S. Senate bid. The Hill reported that Trump’s super PAC, MAGA Inc., recently poured an additional $5 million into the Texas Senate race, according to a Federal Election Commission filing published Saturday.

* And speaking of money in politics, the cryptocurrency industry spent heavily to defeat then-Sen. Sherrod Brown two years ago, and as the Ohio Democrat moves forward with his comeback bid, crypto proponents are now prepared to invest another $30 million to keep him out of the Senate.

* In South Dakota, Republican Secretary of State Monae Johnson, who helps oversee the state’s system of elections, recently lost to a far-right rival at a state GOP convention. Now, however, Johnson is endorsing Democrat Terrence Davis over Republican Heather Baxter, arguing that this is a moment “when I believe the integrity, stability, and professionalism of this office is at stake.”

* In Ohio’s most closely watched U.S. House race, Democratic challenger Brian Poindexter launched a new ad last week, emphasizing domestic abuse allegations against Republican Rep. Max Miller, which Miller has denied. Now, the controversial GOP incumbent is threatening legal action to block the ad.

* In related news, the Congressional Leadership Fund, the super PAC aligned with the House Republican leadership, is reportedly investing nearly $5 million in support of Miller’s re-election bid.

* And in Connecticut, the latest Quinnipiac University poll found incumbent Democratic Gov. Ned Lamont with a sizable lead over his Republican rival, Ryan Fazio, 55% to 38%.

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