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 the Survey and Policy Research Institute at San Jose State shows California Gov. [tag]Arnold Schwarzenegger[/tag] (R) with a solid-but-not-insurmountable lead over [tag]Phil Angelides[/tag], 44% to 37%. In March, the two were closer, with the incumbent ahead by 40% to 37%. Pollsters found, however, that Bush remains very unpopular in California and that “the president and his policies are a drag” on Schwarzenegger.
* In Texas, [tag]Kinky Friedman[/tag] is urging Texas election officials to allow him to appear on the state’s gubernatorial name using his nickname, instead of his given name. As the Houston Chronicle reported, Texas Secretary of State Roger Williams has said Friedman can be listed on the ballot with his nickname, but said he thinks state law will require him to be listed as either Richard “Kinky” Friedman or R. “Kinky” Friedman.
* Rep. [tag]Tom Osborne[/tag] (R-Neb.) lost his gubernatorial Republican primary in May, but some of his more enthusiastic fans want to be able to vote for him in November anyway. As the Lincoln Journal Star explained, Nebraska has a 50-year-old election law that disqualifies people who were defeated in a primary election from being write-in candidates in a general election. Osborne backers are poised to challenge that law with the state Supreme Court.
* In Hawaii, Rep. [tag]Ed Case[/tag] (D) continues to take on Sen. [tag]Daniel Akaka[/tag] (D) in a Dem primary, but a new Honolulu Advertiser poll suggests the incumbent still has the advantage, 51% to 40% (via Taegan Goddard).
* And just a reminder, Joe Lieberman and Ned Lamont will meet tonight for their first — and only — debate. It begins at 7pm (eastern) and is scheduled to be aired nationally by C-SPAN and MSNBC.