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:
* New York Attorney General [tag]Eliot Spitzer[/tag]’s (D) lead in the state’s gubernatorial race just keeps growing. In a new Quinnipiac poll, Spitzer led former Massachusetts Gov. [tag]William Weld[/tag] (R) 66% to 17%, and [tag]John Faso[/tag] 67% to 16%. Among New York Dems, Spitzer is ahead of primary rival Tom Suozzi, 73% to 13%. Spitzer spokeswoman Christine Anderson only called the showing “encouraging,” and Spitzer pollster Jef Pollock carefully noted that “nothing is indestructible.”
* The same Quinnipiac poll in New York shows Sen. [tag]Hillary Clinton[/tag] dominating her GOP opponents by similar margins. Quinnipiac has Clinton leading Kathleen “K.T.” [tag]McFarland[/tag] 64% to 27%, and ahead of [tag]John Spencer[/tag] 63% to 27%.
* In Ohio’s closely-watched gubernatorial race, a new Rasmussen poll offers Dems very encouraging news. According to the poll, Rep. [tag]Ted Strickland[/tag] (D) has added to his earlier lead over Ohio Secretary of State J. Kenneth [tag]Blackwell[/tag] (R) and is now ahead 52% to 36%. In January, Strickland led, 44% to 40%. Ohio has had a Republican governor for the last 16 years.
* In Rhode Island, Sen. [tag]Lincoln Chafee[/tag] (R) filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission yesterday against his Republican primary opponent, Cranston Mayor [tag]Stephen Laffey[/tag]. Chafee’s report explained that Club for Growth has played a major role in Laffey’s fundraising, but he hasn’t reported it with the FEC. Chafee also accused Laffey of receiving illegal corporate contributions and underreporting how much his campaign has spent on direct mail. Club for Growth accused Chafee of “trying to change the subject.”
* In 2008 news, former Senate Majority Leader [tag]Tom Daschle[/tag] (D-S.D.) will travel to Iowa, New Hampshire, and Michigan next month to help gauge potential support for a 2008 presidential campaign.
* And, while I don’t usually mention state legislative races, this has to be one of the nastiest campaign attacks I’ve ever seen. In a nutshell: one Republican State Assembly candidate in California is accusing another of being unprepared for office because he had a [tag]heart transplant[/tag] six years ago.