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:
* Bill Shaheen, the co-chairman of Hillary Clinton campaign in New Hampshire, caused a quite stir by tackling Barack Obama’s teenaged drug use yesterday. In response, the Clinton campaign quickly distanced itself from Shaheen’s comments, saying “these comments were not authorized or condoned by the campaign in any way.” Shaheen himself released his own statement shortly thereafter: “I deeply regret the comments I made today and they were not authorized by the campaign in any way.”
* The flap was certainly noticed at Obama campaign headquarters. Obama campaign manager David Plouffe issued a statement that read in part: “Hillary Clinton said attacking other Democrats is the ‘fun part’ of this campaign, and now she’s moved from Barack Obama’s kindergarten years to his teenage years in an increasingly desperate effort to slow her slide in the polls. Senator Clinton’s campaign is recycling old news that Barack Obama has been candid about in a book he wrote years ago, and he’s talked about the lessons he’s learned from these mistakes with young people all across the country.” This morning, the Obama campaign began raising money on the controversy.
* Despite the setbacks, the New York senator remains very optimistic about her chances: “Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton is anticipating that she will not have to wait long to become the Democratic presidential nominee, privately telling campaign donors in California that the race ‘is all going to be over by Feb. 5.'”
* And in still more Clinton-related news: “Bill Clinton has severed business ties with Los Angeles billionaire Ron Burkle, fearful that their deals could erupt into bad publicity damaging his wife’s presidential bid, according to sources who know both men. The break-up is a major development in the world of political fundraising, where Burkle has risen to the top ranks, credited with channeling $50 million or more into Democratic coffers over the past 15 years.”
* All four Democratic presidential candidates from the Senate will return to work this afternoon, briefly, in order to vote on an energy bill pending on the Hill. They will then quickly return to Iowa, for a debate set to begin at 2pm eastern.
* Speaking of today’s debate, the Des Moines Register decided that Dennis Kucinich and Mike Gravel will not be welcome on the stage today, because neither have opened campaign offices in the Hawkeye State. Why Alan Keyes can participate in the GOP debate, but Kucinich can’t participate in the Dems’ debate is unclear.
* And speaking of Iowa, there’s apparently quite a debate going on about whether students from out of state going to a college an Iowa should be able to participate in the caucuses. State law allows it (and kind of encourages it), but some, including David Yepsen, say it violates the “spirit” of the caucuses, whatever that means. I find the whole debate rather confusing, but Greg Sargent breaks it down nicely.
* Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) is at least a little worried about his re-election fight next year, and now has his first serious Democratic challenger — Retired Lieutenant colonel Andrew Horne announced his Senate bid today. Horne has not held elected office, and lost in a Democratic House primary last year.
* And speaking of vulnerable Republican incumbents, there’s a real opportunity for some shake-up in Alaska next year: “A new round of Research 2000 polling, commissioned by Daily Kos, finds two longtime — and scandal-plagued — incumbents trailing in Alaska. Congressman Don Young (R) trails former state Rep. Ethan Berkowitz (D) by a 49%-42% margin, while Senator Ted Stevens (R) is behind Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich (D) 47%-41%.” Dems have not won a federal election in Alaska since 1974.