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:
* Though Sen. Hillary Clinton’s re-election seems to be a foregone conclusion, the New York Post reports today that Karl Rove is getting “directly involved in the effort to defeat” Clinton, and dispatched a top aide to meet for an hour at the White House yesterday with former Yonkers Mayor John Spencer, the only Republican willing to run.
* Earlier this week, Rhode Island Secretary of State Matt Brown pointed to an internal poll showing him pulling ahead against in his Senate primary fight against former state Attorney General Sheldon Whitehouse (D). Yesterday, an independent poll from Brown University showed the same thing, with Brown leading 31% to 25%, after trailing by 16 points in September. The same poll showed Brown trailing incumbent Sen. Linc Chafee (R) by only two points, 38% to 36%.
* The same Brown University showed Rhode Island Gov. Don Carcieri (R) in much better shape, leading Lt. Gov. Charlie Fogarty (D), 46% to 35%.
* Massachusetts Lt. Gov. Kerry Healey (R) officially kicked off her gubernatorial campaign yesterday, hoping to succeed Mitt Romney, who is apparently running for president. Healey vowed to do what every GOP gubernatorial candidate says in Massachusetts — fight the Democratic Legislature.
* Speaking of Massachusetts, state Attorney General Tom Reilly’s (D) campaign has struggled and the polls now reflect that. The latest Suffolk University poll shows Reilly leading Deval Patrick (D) in a Dem primary, 39% to 30%. Last year, the margin was 40 points.
* In Wyoming, Gov. Dave Freudenthal (D) enjoys a huge lead over Ray Hunkins (R) in the latest Mason-Dixon poll, 55% to 17%.