Hurtling Toward 2010, 10/5

The 2010 midterms are just around the corner (sort of). Here's what's happening:

Rep. Mark Kirk (R-IL), the Republican (and thus darkhorse) candidate vying for President Obama's old Illinois Senate seat, hauled in a strong $1.6 million in the third quarter; Karl Rove donated to conservative upstart and Florida Senate candidate Marco Rubio; Rep. Kendrick Meek (D-FL), who will run against the winner of Rubio's primary against Gov. Charlie Crist, should benefit from a DC fundraiser hosted by Bill Clinton; and Rasmussen finds that Republicans could have a tough time hanging onto the Senate seat being vacated by the retiring Sen. Jim Bunning (R-KY).