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:
* If Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas), as expected, takes on Texas Gov. Rick Perry in a Republican primary next year, she’s well positioned for a victory. A new poll released yesterday shows Perry’s job approval rating slipping to just 45%. Hutchison, meanwhile, remained the most popular Texas politician with a 67% job approval rating, which includes strong support across political lines.
* Louisiana has always been one of the handful of states to hold off-year statewide elections, but a new proposal may change that. Though Louisiana’s next election for governor and the state legislature is currently due to be held in 2007, a bill that passed a state House committee yesterday would push the election off by one year to conform with the national calendar. In turn, Gov. Kathleen Blanco (D) and all statewide elected officials would serve an extra year as part of their term in office. The plan, sponsored by State Rep. Peppi Bruneau (R), is in part intended to boost voter turn-out — voter turnout for presidential elections in Louisiana is typically about 70% compared to about 55% in races for governor.
* Despite Jane Abraham’s stated interest in the race, Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox endorsed Senate candidate Keith Butler (R) yesterday in the first high-profile endorsement of the campaign. Since Butler’s announcement, state and national Republicans have given him the cold shoulder and have looked for a more viable alternative. Cox’s endorsement suggests Abraham may not be the ideal candidate either.
* A couple of months after indicating interest in the New York Senate campaign, lawyer Ed Cox made his intentions clear this week by creating an exploratory committee with the Federal Election Commission. Cox, who is also the son-in-law of the late President Richard Nixon, is currently the only Republican considering a campaign against Sen. Hillary Clinton (D).
* After losing to now-Rep. Mike Sodrel (R-Ind.) in 2004 by about 1,500 votes, former Rep. Baron Hill (D) is very serious about a rematch next year. Hill will kickoff of his campaign fundraising effort next month at a “Bring Back Baron” event in DC, headlined by Sen. Evan Bayh (D) and Democratic Reps. Julia Carson and Peter Visclosky.
* Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) continues to generate discussion about his presidential ambitions. In Iowa yesterday, Gingrich said he’d consider running in 2008 if enough people agreed with ideas outlined in his new book (bolstering my suspicions that the talk is more about selling books than paving the way for a campaign).