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 Connecticut, the Washington Post reports that Sen. Joe Lieberman (D) has given up on his GOTV efforts for next week. “Facing a likely defeat, Lieberman has scrapped plans for a massive and costly get-out-the-vote operation on primary day, according to several Democratic sources,” the WaPo reported. “Instead, he will shift some of his resources into more television commercials designed to highlight his accomplishments for the state, in hopes of boosting his battered image.”
* In Tennessee, former Chattanooga Mayor Bob Corker (R) and Rep. Harold Ford Jr. (D) easily won their respective primaries and will face off in November in the state’s open Senate race. Ford immediately challenged Corker to seven debates throughout the state. Also in Tennessee, state Sen. Jim Bryson (R) won the GOP gubernatorial nomination and will face Gov. Phil Bredesen (D).
* Rep. Stephanie Herseth (D) is in a commanding position to win re-election in South Dakota. According to a new Mason-Dixon poll, Herseth leads GOP activist Bruce Whalen, 60% to 26%. Whalen can’t expect much in the way of help from Bush, either — the president’s approval rating is down to just 41% in South Dakota.
* Speaking of South Dakota, the state’s gubernatorial race is about as competitive as its House race. An Argus Leader poll this week showed Gov. Mike Rounds (R) leading Jack Billion (D), 56% to 27%.
* And in Kentucky’s 4th congressional district, a SurveyUSA poll (from reader N.S.) shows former Rep. Ken Lucas’ (D) comeback effort looking pretty good. Lucas, hoping to regain his old seat, now leads incumbent Rep. Geoff Davis, 50% to 41%. An internal poll from the Lucas campaign shows a 14-point lead. Oddly enough, it’s reached the point in which the national GOP is considering giving up on the race altogether.