I could have written on some of the others, but I hope what is posted below is of some value to someone.
I can offer some info
as I know several personally (and am involved in helping their campaigns on educational policy).
I don't know how you want to make your decisions, such as if a candidate is likely to win you'd like to direct the money elsewhere, or the candidate has little chance you'd like to target the money in a more competitive race.
Let me tell about a few.
Bill Winter is running against one of the biggest pieces of trash in Congress, Tom Tancredo, who is (a) totally anti-immigrant, and (b) violating his term limits pledge. Bill is a good guy, who blogs regularly at dailykos - you can read his diaries here
Jay Fawcett is an Air Force Academy graduate running in anh open district (it was Bob Beauprez who is Republican nominee for Governor) that includes Boulder (James Dobson territory). Colorado is tilting more and more blue, the Dems look to have the advantage in the Governor's race and this is a good chance to turn a seat from Red to Blue
Charlie Brown is a retired AF Lt. Col running against John Doolittle, who has recentlyhad a lot of bad exposure because of how he has been using his wife's company to filter campaign funds and pocket a big share. It is not technically illegal, but on top of the problems from Cunningham, it has left something of a bad taste in the district and has brought this district into far more play than by anyrights it ought to be. Charlie is a very good guy.
Coleen Rowley was one of three women who were Time Magazine's persons of the year as whistle blowers a few years ago. She was the FBI aent (and lawyer) in Minneapolis who complained whyen the FBI bureaucracy would not get the authroization to search the computer of Moussaoui. This is an uphill race, but she has a real shot, as the Republican governor looks weak for reelection, and Dems have a slight edge in keeping the Senate seat left open by the retirement of mark Dayton (who would have lost a reelection bid).
Patty Wetterling ran a tough race in this district the last cycle, losing to the man now running for the Senate for the Republicans. Thus she already has name recognition in a district that is an open seat.
Patricia Madrid is the current Attorney General in New Mexico, running in a district which Heather Wilson has won only because in the past a Green Party candidate drew significant votes away from democratic candidates. This race is so highly competitive that Bush just went in to help raise money for Wilson. That may actually hurt her, as the president is very unpopular in the state right now. And Bill Richardson has to help her win this one if he is going to have any credibility on the national seen.
Jack Carter is the son of the former president. John Ensign is a first term senator who is a bit of an empty suit, but not to be undersestimated as a campaigner. The first time he ran for the Senate he came within 500 votes of beating Harry Reid. He got to the Senate in a seat left open by the retirement of Richard Bryan. He would normally be considered a strong favorite to keep this seat, but Carter starts with name recognition, is likely to have multiple appearances by his father (whose popularity has increased as time has passed from his presidency - especially as Bush is not that popular in-stateO. Further, the biggest issue instate was Yucca Mountain, on which Bush made promises that he abandoned. If Ensign cannot helpe with such a key local issue that will hurt him statewide. Las vegas is, surprisingly, a heavily unionized city, and Jack has some appeal in the rural areas. he is a dark horse, but he has a shot.
Jon Tester is a netroots favorite, who was a distinct underdog in the primary to statewide office holder John Morrison, a favorite of party insiders. But Morrison got hit with a scandal that was both personal and involved his office at least a bit, and Tesgter easily won the primary. In a state that has tilted Blue in the last cycle (Gov Schweitzer, for example), Tester is absolutely unique. He is big guy who drives his own semi on the campaign trail, he has a crewcut, he is president of the state senate, and he is an organic farmer. he is running against perhaps the most endangered republican incumbent, Conrad Burn, who narrowly defeated then-unknown Brian Schweitzer 6 years ago. The only possible reason not to pick Tester is that he will have no trouble raising money, he is at this point ahead in the polls, and he already has substantial netroots support.
Ted Ankrum is running a tough race, but is a terrific guy who really needs money and recognition. he is a retired navy vet who did 4 tours in Vietnam winning both a bornze star and a purple heart. He has served as a deputy administrator at NASA (quite important in his Houston-area district) and at the EPA, and has had high ranking positions also in Dept of Enery and Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Ted is on record calling NCLB a disaster (or worse) saying it ought to be replaced.
And if anyone needs info on any of the other candidates, E or W, I know something about most of them and would be willing to provide the info.
I skipped some because I see little chance of their winning, although in the case of Ted Ankrum, whom I very much like, I pushed the envelope. Thus my original post does not include Chris Bell, who is the Dem candidate for governor in TX, in what is shaping up to be a 4-way race. If the 4th candidate, Kinky Friedman running as an independent, were not in the race, I might consider it a possible win, as there are two Republican candidates. Gov. Perry is running for reelection with a weak record. Carol Keaton Strayhorn is the mother of former press Secretary Scdott McClelland and former administrator of the medicare plan Mark McClelland, and is currently Railroad Commissioner. And to give Chris Bell credit, he was the member of the House who brought the last successful ethics complaint against Tom Delay, who ensured that Bell would be redistricted into a situation he could not win last cycle. He deserves credit, but I have serious doubt that he can do decently because most people expect Friedman to take something around 10% of the vote.
It is not that I am a total political junkie, but (a) i do teach government, and (b) I am an active participant at dailykos and all of these races have been discussed multiple times, and several of the people have posted there.