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:
* Republican presidential hopefuls will gather tonight for their third debate, this one in New Hampshire on the same stage used by Dems on Sunday night. The debate will be aired on CNN, starting at 7pm eastern.
* In one of the more inexplicable media decisions in recent memory, Fox News has invited Fred Thompson — who has formed a presidential exploratory committee, but who has declined to participate in the debate — to offer post-debate commentary on Hannity & Colmes. No conflict of interest there….
* Rudy Giuliani’s campaign distributed an item to conservative bloggers yesterday from the Salt Lake Tribune about whether Mitt Romney would fulfill a disputed Mormon legend about saving the Constitution in the last days. A Romney spokesperson suggested Giuliani’s campaign looked like it was questioning Romney’s faith. Giuliani’s campaign quickly backed off, calling the distribution of the story “a regrettable mistake.”
* Speaking of Giuliani, the new Post/ABC poll asked Republican voters how they feel about the former NYC mayor supporting abortion rights and gay civil unions. Fifty percent said his positions make them less likely to vote for him, up four points since February.
* The Democratic Senate primary in Minnesota is now up to three candidates, with St. Cloud bank owner Bob Olson scheduled to kick off his campaign later today. Olson, who is also the founder of the American Sustainable Energy Council, joins Al Franken and Mike Ciresi in the DFL field, with the winner to take on Sen. Norm Coleman (R) next year.
* And in Georgia, Dale Cardwell, a former television investigative reporter, announced yesterday that he will seek the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate. He will likely take on Vernon Jones, chief executive of adjacent DeKalb County, who has formed an exploratory committee, and who has been the subject of some of Cardwell’s investigative reports. The winner will face Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R) next fall.