CQPolitics.com reports that Democrat Eric Massa is drawing support from the national party in his second bid to topple two-term GOP Rep. John R. “Randy” Kuhl Jr. in New York’s 29th District. The district, which links the largely rural “Southern Tier” region with suburbs of Rochester, is arguably the state’s most Republican-leaning one. But Massa came within 3 percentage points of Kuhl last year, when he was a political newcomer. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is giving Massa additional help this time around.

The Pioneer Press reports that Democratic Minnesota Senate candidate Al Franken “released his latest high-dollar fundraising numbers today with an unusual YouTube video that decries the necessity to collect such high dollars in fundraising.” While he has “garnered $1.89 million in the last quarter,” and his “total cash raised is $5.18 million,” he “only has $2.45 million cash on hand, continuing his habit of spending big and raising big.” Democrat Mike Ciresi and Republican incumbent Norm Coleman have not yet released their latest fundraising numbers.

The Fort Bend Herald reports that Republican Pete Olson, a former aide to Sens. John Cornyn and Phil Gramm, has joined the crowded field of candidates in Texas’ 22nd House District seeking to reclaim the seat once held by Tom DeLay for the GOP. Olson, a former Navy pilot, faces former Rep. Shelley Sekula Gibbs, former Pasadena Mayor John Manlove, former Sugar Land Mayor Dean Hrbacek and State Rep. Robert Talton in the Republican primary, with the winner to face Rep. Nick Lampson, D-Texas.