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:
* Former Rep. Tim Roemer (D-Ind.), after flirting with the idea for a few weeks, announced yesterday that he will not take on incumbent Sen. Richard Lugar (R-Ind.) next year. Roemer said a number of factors led to the decision, but cited his four young children as the primary reason for skipping the race. Without Roemer, Lugar’s re-election is practically ensured.
* With most of Ohio’s Republican heavyweights severely tarnished by coin dealer Tom Noe, party leaders are begging former Rep. John Kasich (R) to return to the state and run for governor next year. His friends say he hasn’t ruled it out and has been discussing the race with GOP officials. In fact, Kasich has even started laying out conditions, including a clear field — which means party leaders would have to persuade Secretary of State Ken Blackwell (R), Auditor Betty Montgomery (R), and Attorney General Jim Petro (R), all of whom have received Noe money, to bow out.
* With Virginia’s gubernatorial election just four months away, Lt. Gov. Tim Kaine (D) has made surprising inroads in the state’s Republican circles. More than $1.3 million of the $10 million Kaine received as of the end of the quarter has come from donors who also gave to 2001 candidate John Hager (R) or to Virginians for Warner, a group of Republicans and independents backing Gov. Mark Warner (D).
* Ending months of speculation, Nevada state Sen. Bob Beers (R) launched his campaign for governor this week, promising to “stop the hyper-growth of government.” Incumbent Gov. Kenny Guinn (R) is term-limited and can’t seek re-election.
* In Colorado, Gov. Bill Owens (R) made a surprisingly early endorsement in the race to succeed him, throwing his support behind Rep. Bob Beauprez (R). In the process, Owens snubbed Marc Holtzman, who was the governor’s secretary of technology for five years, and who is also seeking the GOP nod.
* And speaking of Colorado, Rep. Tom Tancredo is acting increasingly serious about a quixotic presidential campaign in 2008. Last month, saying he’s grown frustrated with the direction of immigration laws, Tancredo told a New Hampshire audience, “If no one is willing to pick up the banner…yeah, I’ll run.” This week, Tancredo began campaigning through Iowa, delivering his anti-immigrant message to religious conservatives. What’s more, he’s planning to meet with the man who once managed Pat Buchanan’s presidential campaign.