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:
* In Vermont, Rep. Bernie Sanders’ Senate campaign has barely started and he’s already crushing his likely opponents. Businessman Richard Tarrant, who announced last week that he will run, trails Sanders, 62% to 18%. Lt. Gov. Brian Dubie (R) is also interested, but despite winning statewide campaigns twice since 2002, he’s not even close to being competitive with Sanders, who leads Dubie 59% to 23%. Unless Dems field a candidate, Sanders is a shoo-in.
* The jockeying for position among Dems in the Massachusetts gubernatorial race continues between State Attorney General Thomas Reilly, Secretary of State William Galvin, and Deval Patrick, the top civil rights enforcer in the Clinton administration. Despite being the newcomer, Patrick will pick up the first major endorsement of the campaign today when Rep. James McGovern (D) throws his support behind the first-time candidate.
* Investment banker David McSweeney is gearing up to take on Rep. Melissa Bean (D-Ill.) next year, indicating yesterday that he’s prepared to “put at least seven figures” into his campaign. McSweeney filed papers with the Federal Election Commission last week. State GOP leaders aren’t exactly thrilled about his prospects: “He might be able to win the primary, but if David McSweeney wins the primary it all but assures that Bean is reelected,” an Illinois Republican told The Hill.
* Almost two years ago, Eric Massa was forced to resign as a Republican staffer on the House Armed Services Committee after he was spotted outside an event for his former boss and good friend Wesley Clark. Now a Dem, Massa is planning a run for Congress against freshman Rep. Randy Kuhl (R-N.Y.), whom Dems consider very vulnerable. Massa is a 24-year veteran of the Navy who spent several years in the late 90s as a top aide to Clark — first in Panama, where Clark headed the U.S. Southern Command, and later when Clark was NATO Supreme Allied Commander in Europe.
* The field of candidates ready to succeed Rep. Rob Portman (R-Ohio), who’s been nominated to be Bush’s top trade negotiator, has reached 19 candidates — 12 Republicans and seven Dems. (I don’t know if that’s a record, but it’s the most I’ve ever seen.)
* With Rep. Ted Strickland (D) running for governor in Ohio, State Sen. Charlie Wilson (D) said Tuesday he will likely announce his candidacy for the open 6th district seat in the next two weeks.
* Speaking of Ohio, Gov. Bob Taft (R) has the lowest approval rating of any governor in the nation — 19% approve, 74% disapprove. (Historical footnote: that was Nixon’s approval rating shortly before leaving the White House in disgrace.) Taft is term-limited and cannot seek re-election again, but with this kind of approval rating, that’s probably best for everyone.
* Though New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg (R) was struggling in the polls a month ago, his fortunes have turned around considerably of late. A new Quinnipiac University poll shows Bloomberg leading Fernando Ferrer (D) 47% to 38%, and Manhattan Borough President C. Virginia Fields 43% to 38%.