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:
* Rep. Jim Davis’ gubernatorial campaign in Florida got a big boost yesterday when former Sen. Bob Graham (D-Fla.) threw his support behind Davis. Though Graham has stayed neutral in previous Dem primaries for 30 years, he said yesterday he no longer feels constrained now that he’s out of elected office. Davis will face state Sen. Rod Smith and probably former state Democratic chairman Scott Maddox in a primary next year.
* Yet another state wants to move up its slot on the presidential primary calendar — this time it’s New Jersey. Currently, the Garden State’s June primary makes the contest largely meaningless, but all that would change is the state moves its primary to Feb. 26 — a week ahead of Super Tuesday — as some state political leaders are suggesting.
* Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney (R) may be harboring presidential ambitions, but he clearly needs to take care of matters in-state first. Not only is his approval rating slipping badly, but a new poll shows Bay State voters preferring Sen. Hillary Clinton (D) against Romney in a hypothetical presidential match-up by a wide margin, 54% to 38% (via Taegan Goddard).
* Speaking of Massachusetts, White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card is back in his home state to receive a Massachusetts Legislators Association award, renewing speculation that he might be weighing a run for governor next year.
* Frustrated that viable candidates refuse run against Sen. Clinton in New York next year, state Republicans have turned their attention on Westchester County District Attorney Jeanine Pirro (R), whom they believe is their “dream candidate” for the race, in large part because she’s pro-choice and has proven her ability to win votes in Dem areas.
* And finally, on the 2008 front, one key obstacle to Colorado Gov. Bill Owens’ (R) presidential ambitions is the difficulties he’s had in his personal life. Despite years of family-values rhetoric, Owens separated from his wife after 28 years of marriage in 2003, prompting many to speculate that the far-right GOP base may reject his candidacy. Owens, however, seems to have resolved the problem — Owens told his wife this week that he wants to come back home and she agreed. Questions linger about what led to the initial break up in the first place. Asked for explanation, Frances Owens, the governor’s wife, said, “It’s actually kind of complicated.”