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:
* A poll released over the weekend from the Columbus Dispatch shows Dems surging to big leads in both of Ohio’s key statewide elections. In the gubernatorial race, the Dispatch poll shows Rep. [tag]Ted Strickland[/tag] (D) expanding on his earlier lead, and is now ahead of Ohio Secretary of State [tag]Ken Blackwell[/tag] (R), 47% to 27%. In the Senate race, Rep. [tag]Sherrod Brown[/tag] (D) has taken the lead over incumbent Sen. [tag]Mike DeWine[/tag] (R), 45% to 37%. The poll was largely conducted after DeWine’s controversial 9/11 ad had reached the airwaves.
* Taegan Goddard reported over the weekend that a new Rasmussen poll, which is not yet online, shows [tag]Ned Lamont[/tag] leading Sen. [tag]Joe Lieberman[/tag] in Connecticut’s Dem primary, 51% to 41%. Perhaps more importantly, the same poll shows Lieberman and Lamont tied in a three-way, general election match-up, with Lieberman as an independent.
* In New Jersey, the back and forth continues in the closely-watched Senate race, with the latest Fairleigh Dickinson University poll showing Sen. [tag]Robert Menendez[/tag] (D) with a modest lead over state Sen. [tag]Tom Kean[/tag] Jr. (R), 43% to 40%.
* Texas’ bizarre four-way gubernatorial race seems to be shifting back towards the incumbent, at least as far as a new Rasmussen poll suggests. The numbers released today show Gov. [tag]Rick Perry[/tag] (R) leading with 40% support, followed by state Comptroller [tag]Carole Keeton Strayhorn[/tag] (I) in second with 20%, entertainer [tag]Kinky Friedman[/tag] (I) at 19%, and former Rep. [tag]Chris Bell[/tag] (D) at 13%.
* And in 2008 news, the DNC’s Rules and By Laws Committee voted Saturday to add a Nevada caucus to the primary calendar, scheduled to take place after Iowa but before New Hampshire. The committee also voted to make the South Carolina primary the fourth contest, to be held shortly after New Hampshire, but before Feb. 5, when any state can schedule a vote. (National Journal offered an interesting play-by-play from Saturday’s meeting.)