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:
* [tag]Tommy Thompson[/tag], the former Wisconsin governor and former HHS secretary, told reporters recently that he’s considering a return to politics. “I’ve got to be honest with you,” he said in a telephone interview from Madison on Friday. “I miss the action.” The action apparently won’t come by way of the state’s gubernatorial race. Thompson announced last night that he will not take on Gov. [tag]Jim Doyle[/tag] (D) this year. Might he run for the Senate against [tag]Herb Kohl[/tag] (D)? Thompson told the WaPo that the Senate holds far less attraction for someone who’s been in executive positions for nearly 20 years. He said he isn’t sure he can envision himself in the Senate.
* Friday was the filing deadline in Florida and no top-tier Republicans are willing to take on Rep. [tag]Katherine Harris[/tag] (R) in the state’s GOP Senate primary. She will not, however, run unopposed for the nomination. Three candidates qualified for the primary ballot: LeRoy Collins Jr., son of former Gov. LeRoy Collins; Peter Monroe, a Pinellas County developer; and William McBride, a Windermere businessman. None of the three is well known in political circles or statewide. A spokesperson for Harris said she is confident she will win.
* Businessman [tag]Pete Ricketts[/tag] (R) may have spent nearly $5 million of his own money to win Nebraska’s GOP Senate primary, but he’ll have to spend a lot more to beat incumbent Sen. [tag]Ben Nelson[/tag] (D) in November. A new Rasmussen poll shows Nelson ahead, 54% to 35%.
* Last year, New York Republicans considered [tag]Jeanine Pirro[/tag] to be a perfect statewide candidate who could give [tag]Hillary Clinton[/tag] a serious run for her money. Now, the state’s GOP establishment is keeping its distance. After Pirro switched from Senate candidate to state attorney general candidate, she expected her supporters to come with her. At this point, despite being the only Republican candidate for the job, Pirro still doesn’t yet have the endorsements of fellow Republicans Gov. [tag]George Pataki[/tag] and NYC Mayor [tag]Michael Bloomberg[/tag].
* And in 2008 news, the LAT had an interesting item over the weekend suggesting that retiring Florida Gov. [tag]Jeb Bush[/tag] insists he won’t run for president, but may be a top choice for GOP running mates. “Jeb Bush will be on anyone’s short list,” said Mark McKinnon, a Bush strategist who is advising [tag]John McCain[/tag]. “He’s got incredible experience, unqualified conservative credentials, and he brings Florida. It’s the trifecta.” McCain recently flew to Tallahassee for a private lunch with Bush at the governor’s mansion, fueling the notion of a McCain-Bush ticket. As the LAT put it, “Advisors to both men acknowledge that such a pairing would help McCain court skeptical conservatives, who will be crucial in GOP primary races.”