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:
* In what the Providence Journal is describing as “one of the most spectacular flame-outs in Rhode Island’s long and florid political history,” Democratic Secretary of State [tag]Matt Brown[/tag] ended Senate campaign yesterday and endorsed former Attorney General [tag]Sheldon Whitehouse[/tag] (D). Brown ran into fundraising trouble, and couldn’t shake questions about dubious contributions from several state parties outside Rhode Island. Whitehouse will take on Sen. [tag]Linc Chafee[/tag] (R), unless Cranston Mayor [tag]Stephen Laffey[/tag] wins an upset in the GOP primary.
* The see-saw battle in New Jersey’s Senate race titled back towards Dems today, as a new Quinnipiac poll shows Sen. [tag]Bob Menendez[/tag] (D) leading state Sen. [tag]Tom Kean[/tag], Jr. (R), 40% to 34%. Menendez is reportedly benefiting from a strong anti-Bush attitude throughout New Jersey.
* California’s Democratic gubernatorial primary is still very close, but State Comptroller Steve Westly has surged ahead of State Treasurer Phil Angelides. The latest Public Policy Institute of California poll shows Westly ahead, 26% to 20%, though a clear majority of state Dems remain undecided (via Taegan Goddard).
* Pennsylvania Treasurer Bob Casey (D) still enjoys a sizable lead over Rick Santorum (R) in the latest Muhlenberg College poll, but not as sizable as it was. Whereas Casey had a 12-point lead last month, the poll shows the margin shrinking a bit, with Casey now ahead, 46% to 38%.
* And in the closely-watched race in New York’s competitive 29th congressional district, a new poll from a Democratic consultant shows retired Navy commander Eric Massa (D) closing in on freshman Rep. Randy Kuhl (R), with the incumbent leading 43% to 40%. The same poll showed Bush’s approval rating in the district dropping to 31%, while only 33% said they have a positive view of Kuhl’s job performance.