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 new poll from Strategic Vision, a Republican firm, shows Rick Santorum trailing Pennsylvania Treasurer Bob Casey (D) by an even wider margin than before. In its latest survey, taken after Santorum recommended penalties for people stuck in New Orleans after Katrina hit, Casey has opened an 14-point lead over Santorum, 52% to 38%. A month ago, the same pollster showed Casey with an 11-point lead.
* Sen. Trent Lot (R-Miss.), for months, has avoided saying specifically whether he’d run for re-election in 2006 or not. Speculation is about to get worse. Lott, who’s Pascagoula home was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina, told Roll Call this week that the effect of the storm is “going to make the whole thing difficult because I want to help, but I have got to go through the whole family situation.” He added, “On a personal basis, it is probably time for me to go. On a constituent and professional basis, maybe I shouldn’t. I don’t know.”
* In a setback for the DCCC, Virginia “Ginny” Schrader, who gave Rep. Michael Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.) a pretty tough race in Pennsylvania’s 8th Congressional District last year, announced this week that she will not seek a rematch. Dems, however, continue to see this race as a potential pick-up opportunity, in large part because Kerry beat Bush in the district. With Schrader out, attention now turns to Iraq War veteran Patrick Murphy, local county commissioner Andrew Warren, and veteran Paul Lang.
* William Weld has already begun campaigning in next year’s gubernatorial race in New York, but he may soon have a primary challenger pushing him from the right. John Faso, the Republican who came very close to winning the state comptroller’s race in 2002, said this week he is “actively exploring” a run for governor next year and is talking to potential financial backers.
* California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) came awfully close last night to admitting that he’s running for a second term, saying, “I am not in this for the short run,” and promising an official announcement Friday in San Diego. The state party, in a rare early move, endorsed Schwarzenegger for reelection at its last convention in February, making a primary challenge far less likely.