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:
* A new Keystone Poll, conducted by Franklin & Marshall University, was published this morning, and shows Dems leading in both of this year’s major statewide races. In Pennsylvania’s Senate race, Bob Casey (D) continues to lead Rick Santorum (R), 50% to 39%. In the gubernatorial race, Gov. Ed Rendell (D) leads retired football player Lynn Swann (R), 45% to 42%.
* Peace activist Cindy Sheehan announced yesterday that she will not run for the Senate in California against incumbent Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D). Sheehan told reporters, “I am not running against Senator Feinstein, but I will continue to be a thorn in her side and a thorn in the side of any representative who is not stridently working for peace.”
* Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano (D) continues to look very strong in advance of her re-election campaign this year, with big leads over her likely GOP rivals. According to a new Rasmussen poll, Don Goldwater (R) comes the closest of any Republican candidate, and he trails Napolitano, 54% to 31%.
* Former Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore (R) may have a devoted theocratic following, but it’s not translating into success for Moore’s gubernatorial campaign. Moore has endorsements from far-right activists nationwide, but his fundraising is hurting, as is his standing in the polls.
* A Chicago Tribune/WGN-TV poll out this week shows that Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D) holds a better than three-to-one advantage over his lesser-known primary challenger while Judy Baar Topinka(R) holds a sizable edge over a crowded field seeking the Republican nomination for governor. For some reason, the Tribune/WGN poll didn’t ask respondents about a hypothetical head-to-head match-up.
* In Nebraska, former Ameritrade executive Pete Ricketts (R), running in a primary to challenge Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) in November, has boosted his name recognition significantly after an expensive ad blitz. Ricketts faces better-known, three-term Attorney General Don Stenberg and former state GOP chairman David Kramer in a Republican primary. Ricketts has contributed almost $1.5 million of his own money to his campaign so far.
* Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski (D) will face a challenge from former state Treasurer Jim Hill (D) in the state’s May 15 primary. “The governor has really been more of a Republican than a Democrat,” Hill said, drawing applause from a group of backers who gathered for his campaign announcement. State Sen. Vicki Walker (D) and former Gov. John Kitzhaber (D) both considered a primary fight with Kulongoski, but ended up skipping the race. Republican gubernatorial candidates include former state Rep. Kevin Mannix, lawyer Ron Saxton, and state Sen. Jason Atkinson.