Monday’s political round-up

My new daily feature about campaign-related news items that wouldn’t generate a post of their own, but may be of interest to political observers:

* Bush’s home-town mayor, Crawford’s Robert Campbell, will not seek re-election, an announcement that comes just six months after the mayor publicly endorsed John Kerry’s presidential campaign. Campbell says his departure has more to do with a fight with difficulties with the city council than the Kerry endorsement.

* DNC Chairman Howard Dean has been keeping a relatively low national profile of late, which is part of an intentional strategy. Dean has done just one interview with a national news outlet as DNC chair (a five-minute quickie with the AP) and won’t sit down with the national press for at least a few more weeks. Dean says he focusing on local media. “We’re getting our message out,” says a DNC source, “from the grass roots up.”

* The Republican Party of Ohio has been burdened by serious internal divisions the last few years, but a group of far-right activists, building off a base of conservative churches, plan to capture control of the party apparatus next year and drive moderates out. The activists plan to use churches to create a network of “so-called Patriot Pastors to register half a million new voters, enlist activists, train candidates and endorse conservative causes.” Near the top of the priority list: electing Secretary of State J. Kenneth Blackwell as governor.

* A Zogby poll released late last week showed New York Gov. George Pataki’ support falling even further. Pataki, who has not yet announced whether he’ll seek re-election next year, now trails Eliot Spitzer 49% to 31% in a hypothetical match-up.

* In Michigan, Democrats Gov. Jennifer Granholm and Sen. Debbie Stabenow are rumored to be top GOP targets, but yet, the party is having trouble recruiting top-tier rivals for next year’s campaign. The latest to withdraw from consideration are real estate developer Peter Cummings and Domino’s Pizza executive David Brandon, both of whom have told Republican leaders they don’t plan on running.

* Rep. Jeb Bradley (R-N.H.) is in a competitive district but easily won re-election next year. State Rep. Peter Sullivan (D) hopes to give Bradley a better race next year, announcing his intention to run against him. “Democrats haven’t begun early traditionally, and that’s probably why we haven’t won this seat in 20 years,” Sullivan told the PoliticsNH.com. “I hope this shows the seriousness of this campaign.”

* Another New England Republican serving in a district Dem presidential candidates keep wining, Rep. Rob Simmons (R-Conn.) is going to have a rematch of his 2002 race, going up against former state Rep. Joe Courtney (D).

* The only Dem in Utah’s congressional delegation, Rep. Jim Matheson, may face former baseball player Dale Murphy in next year’s cycle. Utah Policy Daily noted that Murphy has been making the Republican Lincoln Day dinner circuit, trying to generate interest and support for his effort.