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:
* In a surprise that may shake up Pennsylvania’s gubernatorial race, Russ Diamond, creator of a political action committee called PACleanSweep, created after state legislators approved a controversial raise for themselves, has thrown his hat into the ring as an independent. Polls show Gov. Ed Rendell (D) in a tight race against retired football player Lynn Swann (R), and Diamond’s entry into the campaign could have untold consequences. The NYT cited some pollsters who said Diamond would likely pull more GOP support because PACleanSweep has its deepest roots among Republicans. Diamond has until Aug. 1 to gather 67,000 signatures.
* Speaking of Pennsylvania, the latest poll from Strategic Vision, a Republican firm, shows Bob Casey (D) leading Sen. Rick Santorum, 50% to 40%, and Rendell leading Swann, 44% to 42%. (via Taegan Goddard)
* Missouri’s hotly contested Senate race continues to be one of the key contests to watch this year. According to the latest Rasmussen poll, Missouri State Auditor Claire McCaskill (D) is still clinging to a slight lead over incumbent Sen. Jim Talent (R), 42% to 41%.
* In Tennessee, state Sen. Rosalind Kurita (D) announced yesterday that she is ending her U.S. Senate campaign and asked that her name be removed from the August primary ballot. Kurita’s decision leaves her better-known Dem rival, Rep. Harold Ford Jr., as the only Dem in the race.
* Tarrance Group, a national conservative consulting firm, conducted a poll in Florida last week testing how state House Speaker Allan Bense (R) would fare against Sen. Bill Nelson (D) in the U.S. Senate race. As the Tampa Tribune put it, “The fact that it was done suggests Bense may be considering entering the race, or that an interest group with money to spend wants to find out how he would do.”
* And in 2008 news, Rep. Tom Tancredo (R-Colo.) is apparently so satisfied with Republicans’ anti-immigration efforts that he now believes it is “unlikely” that he will run for president. “I get the feeling that I will not have to do this,” Tancredo told the Denver Post. “This issue, it’s got legs, and they’re not necessarily mine anymore.”