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 Wisconsin, both of the key statewide races are leaning in the Dems’ direction, but one more so than the other. According to a new Rasmussen poll, Sen. [tag]Herb Kohl[/tag] (D) continues to have a big lead over [tag]Robert Gerald Lorge[/tag] (R) in the U.S. Senate race, 60% to 27%. In the gubernatorial race, incumbent Gov. [tag]Jim Doyle[/tag] (D) leads Rep. [tag]Mark Green[/tag] (R), 47% to 41%. Doyle’s margin has remained about the same for the past several months.
* A new Marist College poll in New York shows former Yonkers Mayor [tag]John Spencer[/tag] with a big lead over his GOP Senate primary rival, Kathleen “KT” [tag]McFarland[/tag], but both still trail Sen. [tag]Hillary Clinton[/tag] (D) badly. The poll shows Spencer with a 21-point lead, 36% to 15%, which is a nine-point bump since May, when Spencer led 26% to 14%.
* In Wyoming, a new Rasmussen poll shows voters very much inclined to stick with the leaders they have. In the state’s U.S. Senate race, Republican [tag]Craig Thomas[/tag] leads challenger [tag]Dale Groutage[/tag], 59% to 32%. The 27-point margin is closer than the 39-point lead Thomas enjoyed in April, but it still doesn’t look competitive. As for the governor’s race, incumbent Gov. [tag]Dave Freudenthal[/tag] (D) is all well-positioned for another term, leading Republican challenger [tag]Ray Hunkins[/tag], 58% to 29%.
* In celebrity/political news, retired basketball player [tag]Charles Barkley[/tag], who recently considered running for public office as a Republican, has announced that he’s given up on the party. Barkley told a reporter last week, “I used to be a Republican, before they lost their minds.”
* And in 2008 news, Sen. [tag]Barack Obama[/tag] (D-Ill.) will be traveling to Iowa in September, at Sen. Tom Harkin’s (D) request, to help in-state Dems, but given the circumstances, the trip is raising eyebrows about the senator’s Iowa debut in a presidential campaign context. As the Chicago Tribune’s Jeff Zeleny explained, “Until now, Obama has taken great care to steer clear of Iowa, the state that traditionally launches the race for the White House. But accepting the invitation to appear on Harkin’s high-profile stage Sept. 17 underscores the notion that Obama is not intent on tamping down speculation about his interest in the 2008 campaign.” Responded Obama, “I’ve already been to 30 states. Why not Iowa?”