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:
* Rep. Katherine Harris’ (R-Fla.) Senate prospects just aren’t improving. A new poll from Strategic vision (which, not incidentally, is a Republican pollster) shows incumbent Sen. Bill Nelson (D) leading Harris, 48% to 36%. Though the same poll shows Jeb Bush leading Nelson by a comfortable margin, Jeb has ruled out the campaign.
* Facing a crowded primary fight, real estate developer Kelly Doran (D) has dropped out of Minnesota’s Senate race — but quickly announced that he will seek the governorship instead. Doran, seeking public office for the first time, hopes to take on incumbent Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R), but will have a primary fight against state Sen. Steve Kelley, former legislator and nonprofit leader Bud Philbrook, perennial candidate Ole Savior, and possibly Attorney General Mike Hatch, who has yet to make his intentions clear.
* New York mayoral candidate Fernando Ferrer (D) hoped for a bit of a bump after a stronger-than-expected showing in last week’s Dem primary, but it hasn’t come through. A new Quinnipiac poll has Michael Bloomberg (R) continuing to enjoy a comfortable lead, 52% to 38%.
* Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano (D) intends to use her popularity and base of support to help fellow Dem Jim Pederson in his Senate campaign. Napolitano will headline a fundraiser for Pederson tomorrow. On a related note, Pederson now appears to have the field to himself, with Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon announcing yesterday that he will not run against Sen. Jon Kyl (R) next year.
* A poll commissioned by the Oklahoma state GOP tested the seven most likely Republican candidates hoping to take on Gov. Brad Henry (D) next year. All seven lost in a hypothetical head-to-head match-up, with Rep. Ernest Istook (R) trailing by the smallest margin, 44% to 36%. Istook is expected to announce whether he’ll run within the next few weeks.