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:
* Vote totals in New Orleans’ mayoral race, released over the weekend, show that Mayor C. [tag]Ray Nagin[/tag] and his most prominent rival, Lt Gov. [tag]Mitch Landrieu[/tag], will meet in a May 20 runoff. In a field of 22 candidates, Nagin came out on top with 38% support, followed by Landrieu, who garnered 29%. As the WaPo noted, racial politics remains a key element in the race — Nagin has suffered with white voters, winning as little as 5%. If elected, Landrieu would be the city’s first white mayor since 1978, when his father, Moon, left office. Part of his appeal among black voters is attributed to his father’s role in integrating the city administration.
* Forensic psychiatrist [tag]Lise Van Susteren[/tag] has dropped out of Maryland’s Senate race, citing fundraising concerns. Her departure leaves a still-crowded Dem field, including Rep. Ben Cardin, former Rep. Kweisi Mfume, professor Allan Lichtman, real estate investor Joshua Rales, and former Baltimore County Executive Dennis Rasmussen.
* In Illinois, a new Rasmussen poll shows Gov. [tag]Rod Blagojevich[/tag] (D) trailing state Treasurer [tag]Judy Baar Topinka[/tag] (R), 44% to 38%. Topinka has led in previous Rasmussen polls, but not by this much. Part of the problem for the incumbent — Blagojevich enjoys only 64% support from fellow Democrats.
* Rep. [tag]Jean Schmidt[/tag] (R) may be an incumbent, but when it comes to raising money, she’s trailing former Rep. [tag]Bob McEwen[/tag] (R), her primary opponent, in Ohio’s 2nd district. Roll Call reported today that Schmidt reported raising $216,000 from Jan. 1 to April 12, $100,000 of which was a one-day personal loan to her campaign. McEwen, meanwhile, raised $221,000 during the three-and-a-half-month period, $50,000 of which came from his own pocket.
* In Alabama’s Democratic gubernatorial primary, Lt. Gov. [tag]Lucy Baxley[/tag] leads former Gov. [tag]Don Siegelman[/tag], 39% to 34%, in a new Press-Register/University of South Alabama poll. As Taegan Goddard noted, “The primary will be held on June 6. However, in less than two weeks, Siegelman’s federal corruption trial begins. An exoneration before the vote could shake up the race.”
* And, finally, Sen. [tag]Conrad Burns[/tag] (R-Mont.), whose deep connections to Jack Abramoff have put his career in severe jeopardy, seems to be turning things around a bit. The WaPo reported today that Burns’ GOP primary opponents aren’t talking about Abramoff, Burns is spending heavily on ads that attack Dems for attacking him, and he’s benefiting from severe cynicism that leads Montanans to believe Burns’ influence peddling and corruption is fairly routine.