Today’s installment of campaign-related news items that wouldn’t generate a post of their own, but may be of interest to political observers:
* Following up on the latest Hillary Clinton radio ad, which is clearly misleading about the “party of ideas” flap, the Obama campaign is hitting back, turning Clinton’s attacks into a character issue with a radio spot of their own. The ad tells the audience it was “Hillary Clinton, in an interview with Tom Brokaw, who quote ‘paid tribute’ to Ronald Reagan’s economic and foreign policy. She championed NAFTA – even though it has cost South Carolina thousands of jobs. And worst of all, it was Hillary Clinton who voted for George Bush’s war in Iraq. Hillary Clinton. She’ll say anything, and change nothing. It’s time to turn the page.”
* If you blinked you missed it, but Louisiana apparently held its Republican caucuses last night. The “winner” was “an uncommitted slate running under the title of ‘Pro-Life, Pro-Family,’ followed by John McCain, Ron Paul and Mitt Romney. In fact, the organizers of that “Pro-Life, Pro-Family” slate were almost all Thompson supporters who decided to take that name a few weeks ago, when it became a distinct possibility that he would drop out before the caucuses — which he did that very afternoon.”
* The exodus continues: “Republican Rep. Jim Walsh of New York is expected to announce his retirement soon, according to a GOP aide familiar with the decision, giving Democrats another pick-up opportunity following a wave of Republican retirements this cycle. The veteran appropriator had a tough reelection fight in 2006 and was expected to face another challenge in the fall. It marks another surprise retirement for the GOP.” Dems are already eyeing the district as a strong pick-up opportunity.
* The ugliness associated with the Dems’ Nevada caucuses continues. Yesterday, the Obama campaign filed a formal complaint over some of the alleged irregularities. “On the day of the Caucus, we received by phone reports of misconduct, violations of the rules and irregularities, in the hundreds. Since that time, well over a thousand more accounts have been sent to us,” the complaint said.
* Duncan Hunter endorsed Mike Huckabee’s White House bid yesterday, though Hunter probably lacked the support necessary to help make this matter.
* McCain’s campaign has a new ad out, referring to himself as the Dems’ “worst nightmare.” “Democrat [sic] Senators Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and John Edwards said John McCain’s name 15 times during the course of their hour and a half-long debate this week,” McCain spokeswoman Jill Hazelbaker said in statement. “Why? They fear John McCain most because he’s the one candidate who can rally the conservative Reagan Coalition while appealing to independent voters to win in November.”
* MSNBC will host a debate tonight in Boca Raton, Fla., for the Republican presidential candidates. I’ve haven’t decided whether to watch or not.
* Short on funds, McCain and Giuliani left Florida yesterday in order to raise money in New York. Romney, independently wealthy, stayed in the Sunshine State.
* And the AP notes that Feb. 5 will be huge, but there aren’t enough delegates at stake to officially end the parties’ nominating contests. That’s true, but if one candidate dominates, the writing will be on the wall.