HELPING STATES HIRE.  ABC.  “An Associated Press analysis of the parties’ spending since the 2012 presidential campaign suggests Republicans are trying to copy the Democrats’ playbook: build strong political operations in crucial states and collect as much voter data as possible.”

LOBBYIST FACES FINE.  WP.  “Federal prosecutors have charged a lobbyist and his Alexandria firm with violating federal lobbying law by failing to submit dozens of disclosure reports, a rare legal move that could carry a fine of as much as $5.2 million.”

PRO-CRUZ SUPER PAC.  TIME.  “Draft Ted Cruz For President launched its website Wednesday, citing a goal of collecting one million signatures this year to ‘lay the groundwork for the kind of grassroots army of volunteers, donors, and early-primary voters that is needed to win in 2016.'”

FL:  BILLBOARD COMPLAINT.  Local10.com.  “The complaint contends Crist got an illegal campaign contribution because his name and face were on billboards put up by the Morgan & Morgan law firm.”

HI:  PUBLIC FINANCING BILL DEAD.  SeattlePI.com.  “A bill that would have changed campaign finance laws for state elections in Hawaii died in the state Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, halting its progress unless the group decides to hear the bill again this session.”

OH:  FALSE LEGISLATIVE ACTIVITY REPORTS CHARGED.  Columbus Dispatch.  “A payday lending lobbyist pleaded guilty to a bill of information today that says he failed to report when he paid for lawmaker meals at upscale restaurants in Columbus and Cincinnati, and treated them to a Cincinnati Bengals game.”

VA:  PAC DRAWS FOCUS.  Roanoke Times.  “[T]he Democrat’s solicitation seems to stand out because it sells access not only to special events where the governor would mingle with donors but also to a package of seemingly intimate sit-down meetings with the governor and ‘policy experts.'”

HAVE A GREAT DAY.