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:
* New Jersey Gov.-elect Jon Corzine (D) will reportedly select Rep. Bob Menendez (D) as his replacement in the Senate. The choice seems to have been confirmed by nearly everyone, though a formal announcement has not yet been made. Because Menendez will fill the remainder of Corzine’s term, Menendez will have to run for a full term next year.
* With Menendez moving up, the Dem establishment is expected to quickly rally behind West New York Mayor Albio Sires as Menendez’s successor in the House.
* Though his name has been circulated for years as a possible gubernatorial candidate, director Rob Reiner said Wednesday he will not run for governor of California next year. “I’ve made a definite decision that it’s not something I’m going to do,” the Democratic activist said in a telephone interview with The Associated Press.
* Facing pressure from state party leaders, Illinois State Sen. Steve Rauschenberger (R) announced yesterday that he is dropping out of the state’s gubernatorial race and will instead run for lieutenant governor as the running mate of Chicago businessman Ron Gidwitz. Both have been stuck in single digits in the polls for some time.
* Speaking of running mates, Baltimore Mayor Martin O’Malley (D) has apparently selected State House Majority Whip Anthony Brown (D) as his running mate for Maryland’s gubernatorial race next year. The pick is likely to generate broad praise: Brown is a 44-year-old Harvard-educated lawyer and lieutenant colonel in the Army reserves — who recently returned from a nine-month stint in Baghdad.
* And in 2008 news, Virginia Gov. Mark Warner (D) apparently had an extremely successful swing through South Carolina yesterday, making a very good impression with Dem leaders at a state party fundraiser. “You are going to be one heck of a president,” said former Gov. Jim Hodges, who lost his re-election bid to Republican Mark Sanford in 2002. “I believe like the rest of you that we have a real winner here tonight,” added former Democratic Gov. and U.S. Sen. Fritz Hollings. Dick Harpootlian, a former state party chairman and vocal Warner supporter, took one step further: “I think the people in this room heard the next president of the United States. He was inspiring.” (My friend Tom Schaller was on hand for the event and wrote a terrific first-hand account.)