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:
* According to Strategic Vision, a Republican polling firm, Bob Casey’s lead over Rick Santorum in Pennsylvania just keeps growing. According to the survey, conducted over the weekend, Casey leads by 16 points, 52% to 36%.
* With less than three weeks before voters head to the polls, Sen. Jon Corzine’s (D) lead over Doug Forrester (R) is inching back up. A Quinnipiac poll poll conducted a couple of weeks ago showed Corzine’s lead narrowing to four points; today, a new Quinnipiac poll shows Corzine up by seven, 50% to 43%. The key, polling officials said, to Corzine’s boost is stronger standing with self-identified independents, who back him 50%to 38%.
* With rumors picking up in Colorado that Rep. John Salazar (D) may have his eyes on the state’s gubernatorial race, the freshman congressman set the record straight yesterday. Salazar issued a statement yesterday, ruling out the possibility. “Let me be clear — under no circumstance will I run for governor,” Salazar said.
* And speaking of Colorado’s gubernatorial race, the only announced Dem is former Denver District Attorney Bill Ritter Jr., who enjoys tepid support from the party establishment, which is continuing to search for a better-known candidate. Oddly enough, polls show Ritter already holding his own quite nicely. In a new Mason-Dixon poll of Colorado voters, Ritter leads Rep. Bob Beauprez (R) in a hypothetical match-up, 42% to 36%. Ritter is also ahead of former University of Denver president Marc Holtzman, 41% to 30%.
* To the delight of Minnesota Dems, state Attorney General Mike Hatch (D) confirmed yesterday that he will run for governor in 2006. In a fundraising letter to about 5,000 supporters this week, he wrote, “I will announce my candidacy for governor on Oct. 24, and I ask for your support.” A two-term state attorney general, Hatch has been considered a top contender for governor since 1998.