Romney heading overseas in July

ELK RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) -- Mitt Romney is planning a trip overseas ahead of the Republican National Convention in August.

A Republican official says the Republican presidential candidate is set to visit the Olympics in London for the opening ceremonies July 27 and the beginning of the competition. Then he’ll head to Israel, where he plans to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Romney’s advisers are considering plans to visit other countries in Europe, though the itinerary is still being finalized.

Romney has been vacationing in Wolfeboro, N.H., with a Hamptons fundraiser set for Sunday. He speaks to the NAACP’s annual convention on Wednesday and is planning a Thursday fundraiser with former Vice President Dick Cheney.

McConnell sees closely divided Senate coming

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell says the odds of Republicans taking over the Senate after November’s elections and him becoming the new majority leader are "50-50."

The Kentucky senator says he expects "a very close, competitive election" in the battles for the 33 seats on ballots this fall.

McConnell is not predicting a sweep for Democrats or Republicans in the fall Senate elections. With 50 seats needed to take control, McConnell says "at the end of the day, we will have a very narrow Senate one way or the other."

There are currently 51 Democrats and 47 Republicans in the Senate. There are two independents, Bernie Sanders and Joe Lieberman, who align with Democrats.

The comments came Sunday on CNN’s "State of the Union."

Murphy to air first TV ad in Conn. Senate race

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) -- The Democrats’ endorsed candidate for Connecticut’s open U.S. Senate seat is unveiling his first TV ad in the race.

U.S. Rep. Chris Murphy’s 30-second spot will begin running on Monday. The campaign confirmed it is spending about $300,000 on the ad, which will run over the next two weeks on statewide broadcast and cable stations.

The commercial features Murphy with his family in a grocery store, listening to concerns from constituents about partisan bickering in Washington, challenges to women’s rights and the need for more jobs. Murphy then promises, "as your senator, I’ll never get tired of listening."

Murphy faces a primary challenge on Aug. 14 from fellow Democrat Susan Bysiewicz (BY’-suh-wits). She is running her own TV ad, touting her efforts as a lawmaker to help women who’ve had mastectomies.

Ohio’s Portman: No meeting with Romney

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) -- He may be on Mitt Romney’s short list for vice president, but Sen. Rob Portman said Saturday that he did not travel to New Hampshire to meet with the prospective Republican nominee.

The Ohio Republican told reporters that he hasn’t visited Romney’s New Hampshire vacation home -- just 40 miles from where Portman headlined a state GOP fundraiser Saturday night -- and has no plans to meet with Romney before he leaves New England.