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:
* Neither of the Republicans in Pennsylvania’s two big statewide races this year fare well in a new poll from Strategic Vision, a Republican consulting and public affairs firm. According to the latest numbers, Gov. [tag]Ed Rendell[/tag] (D) leads former football player [tag]Lynn Swann[/tag] (R), 49% to 36%. In the Senate race, state Treasurer [tag]Bob Casey[/tag] (D) continues to enjoy a double-digit lead over Sen. [tag]Rick Santorum[/tag] (R), 50% to 40%. As the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette noted, the numbers were essentially unchanged from the firm’s last poll in June.
* The AP has an interesting report today on the [tag]DCCC[/tag]’s recent decision to reserve time for more than $30 million worth of campaign advertising this fall. The stations involved help highlight which race the DCCC will emphasize most. As the AP explained, “The Democratic targets include clusters of Republican-held seats in the Philadelphia area held by Reps. Jim Gerlach, Curt Weldon and Michael Fitzpatrick, as well as the Ohio River Valley, where Reps. John Hostettler of Indiana, Geoff Davis of Kentucky and Steve Chabot of Ohio can expect a protracted televised barrage.” Also mentioned were two other top Dem priorities, Reps. Heather Wilson (R-N.M.) and Clay Shaw (R-Fla.).
* A new Quinnipiac poll in Connecticut shows Stamford Mayor [tag]Dan Malloy[/tag] losing ground to New Haven Mayor [tag]John DeStefano[/tag] in the state’s Dem gubernatorial primary. Malloy still enjoys a double-digit lead, but the margin has slipped from 20 points to 11 in just one month. Unfortunately for both of them, the same poll shows Malloy and DeStefano trailing Gov. [tag]M. Jodi Rell[/tag] (R) in general election match-ups by about 35 points.
* In 2008 news, [tag]Mitch Davis[/tag], a prominent Mormon filmmaker, has launched a nationwide political organization devoted to “demystifying” his faith, as part of a drive to help Massachusetts Gov. [tag]Mitt Romney[/tag]’s (R) presidential campaign. “If Mitt can be allowed to have a human face without all the folderol that might be slung at that face gratuitously, he will speak for himself, and he will be our next president,” Davis said. He has also established a 527 organization, called RunMittRun.org.
* And in Nevada, an unexpected gubernatorial candidate is challenging Republican orthodoxy. Porn star Mimi Demayo is trying to run in the GOP primary, but claims she’s being unfairly excluded and news outlets won’t include her in statewide polls.