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:
* Lawmakers in New Jersey overwhelmingly approved a measure to move the state’s primary from June to February. With both chambers in Trenton supporting the measure, the bill goes to Gov. Richard Codey (D), who has promised to sign it. “No longer will New Jersey be an afterthought in selection of a candidate for our nation’s highest office,” Codey said in a statement. “No longer will candidates just court our wallets; now they will court our votes.”
* Former Arizona State Senate President John Greene (R) announced yesterday that he’s taking on incumbent Gov. Janet Napolitano (D) next year. It will be Greene’s second run for statewide office in Arizona, following an unsuccessful run for state attorney general in 2002, in which he lost in a GOP primary.
* Rep. Rob Simmons (R-Conn.) represents a left-leaning district, which narrowly returned him to Congress last year because Simmons assured voters that his position on the Navy subcommittee would help protect a submarine base in his district from closing. Now that the Pentagon wants to shut the base down, many believe Simmons’ career may be in jeopardy.
* Wisconsin State Rep. Spencer Black (D) is considering an independent run for governor because Gov. Jim Doyle (D) isn’t liberal enough for state activists. Black acknowledges the fact that he’s been urged to run, and he said yesterday that he’s not ruling out the idea.
* Former Congressman and Homeland Security Undersecretary Asa Hutchinson (R) launched his campaign for governor of Arkansas last week — in Washington. Hutchinson will face Lt. Gov. Win Rockefeller (R) in a Republican primary. Arkansas Attorney General Mike Beebe is the only Democrat in the race.
* In Alabama, the race for lieutenant governor next year could feature two of the biggest family names in the state’s political history: Wallace and Folsom. George Wallace Jr. said Thursday he’s planning to run as a Republican. Friends of Jim Folsom Jr. said he’s considering entering as a Democrat.