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:
* John McCain isn’t the only GOP presidential hopeful backing troop escalation. Former Gov. Mitt Romney (R-Mass.), who’s been reluctant to comment either way on Bush’s so-called “surge,” told reporters this morning, “In consultation with Generals, military experts and troops who have served on the ground in Iraq, I believe securing Iraqi civilians requires additional troops. I support adding five brigades in Baghdad and two regiments in Al-Anbar province.” It’s a lot more than Rudy Giuliani is willing to say.
* There’s been plenty of speculation about John Kerry’s future, and according to a report from Chris Cillizza, the 2004 Democratic nominee is “likely” to run again in 2008. As part of an effort to lay the groundwork, Kerry is bolstering his staff, adding top new aides to his campaign committee and Senate office staffs. David Wade, a longtime aide to Kerry, predicted a decision “early in the new year,” adding, “We’re well over a year away before the first ballots are cast in the 2008 nominating process, but Sen. Kerry has no intention of waiting too long in his decision.”
* Christopher Christie, the Republican U.S. attorney for New Jersey, has long been rumored as a top rival for Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D) in 2008, but Christie announced this week that he plans to stay in his current job into next year. “I have every intention of being here through the end of ’07 and into early 2008,” Christie said. “We’ll see what happens when ’08 starts.”
* Sen. Ken Salazar (D-Colo.) has told interested parties that he’s not “actively” trying to become the 2008 presidential nominee’s running mate, but he’s apparently interested, should anyone want to consider him for the slot.
* Roll Call reports today that recent interviews with 63 of Iowa’s 99 GOP county chairmen found that John McCain is “far from the first choice of likely caucus voters.” A majority of country GOP leaders in the first caucus state found “disdain for his politics — particularly his handling of President Bush’s judicial nominees and his association with the issue of campaign finance reform. Disenchantment with his candidacy reaches all corners of the state, including the pivotal Republican stronghold of northwest Iowa and vote-rich counties such as Polk, Linn and Scott.” Andrea Roys, chairwoman of the Fayette County GOP in northeastern Iowa, said, “He tries to appeal to the media and make himself liked — and is a RINO Republican as far as I am concerned.”