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:
* Two top-tier Republican presidential candidates are dealing with far-right ads against them in early primary states. John McCain is the subject of a new Club for Growth ad, which is running in New Hampshire, complaining about McCain’s hesitancy to repeal the estate tax. Bill Frist, meanwhile, is dealing with a week-long ad buy in Iowa from the Center for Reclaiming America, a radical religious right group, which targets Frist for his support for federally-funded stem-cell research.
* Speaking of ads, Virginia’s Republican gubernatorial candidate Jerry Kilgore hits the airwaves this week with his first major ad buy of the campaign. Kilgore advisers said none of the ads is negative or critical of Democratic candidate Tim Kaine — those will come later.
* And speaking of Virginia’s gubernatorial race, Tim Kaine went out of his way — at one point, nearly jogging — to appear alongside popular Gov. Mark Warner (D) during Labor Day festivities yesterday.
* In what will likely turn out to be among the most important races in the country next year, Missouri’s Senate race is already poised for a cliffhanger. A new Rasmussen poll shows incumbent Sen. Jim Talent (R) tied with Missouri State Auditor Claire McCaskill (D), 46% to 46%.
* Confirming months of rumors, Oregon State Sen. Vicki Walker (D) announced yesterday that she will challenge Gov. Ted Kulongoski in a Dem gubernatorial primary next year.
* And, finally, in the revenge-can-be-sweet category, John Kerry is weighing in on the mayoral race St. Paul, Minn. Last year, St. Paul Mayor Randy Kelly was the nation’s only elected Democrat to endorse Bush. Now, Kerry is returning the favor, throwing his support behind challenger Chris Coleman (D).