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 case you needed further proof that debate analysis is purely in the eye of the beholder, consider a couple of examples. The Des Moines Register’s top political analyst, after last night’s event, concluded, “Edwards probably did himself the most good.” The Manchester Union Leader’s top political analyst concluded, “John Edwards and Bill Richardson did not make as strong a showing as they had hoped in the Democratic Presidential debate yesterday.”
* Fred Thompson received a warm welcome at a fundraising dinner for the Virginia Republican Party over the weekend, offering up red meat — and little else — for the GOP faithful. Asked by a reporter afterwards what he would do as president, Thompson said, “Well, I’d do lots of things.” Asked if he was prepared to share some examples, he said, “No.”
* Rudy Giuliani’s allies in New Jersey appear anxious to give him a hand when the state holds its primary on Feb. 5: “Supporters of Rudy Giuliani for president are changing New Jersey’s longtime proportional representation rules for allocating national convention delegates to winner-take-all, seeking a coup to give the former New York City mayor the lion’s share of the state’s 52 votes.”
* Scandal-plagued Rep. Jerry Lewis (R-Calif.) may be exiting stage right next year. Bob Novak cited GOP sources on the Hill saying Lewis probably won’t seek a 16th term, due to the series of ethics and legal scandals.
* And Rep. Wayne Gilchrest (R-Md.), one of only four congressional Republicans to vote against Bush’s Iraq policy, is being rewarded with a primary challenger. State Sen. Andy Harris (R), a Johns Hopkins obstetric anesthesiologist and a commander in the Naval Reserve, announced that he plans to take Gilchrest on.