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 addition to the big news in Ohio’s Senate race, Ohio’s gubernatorial race was also shaken up yesterday when state Sen. Eric Fingerhut (D) ended his campaign. Fingerhut’s announcement helps further clear the field for Rep. Ted Strickland (D).
* In Colorado’s gubernatorial race, Dems continue to search for an alternative to former Attorney General Denver District Attorney Bill Ritter (D), but in the meantime, Ritter’s doing pretty well. In the most recent Denver Post poll, Ritter leads Rep. Bob Beauprez (R), 43% to 37%. The poll showed Ritter’s opposition to abortion rights has helped peel off support from GOP voters.
* Former Yonkers Mayor John Spencer (R) may not have the Republican Senate nomination to take on Hillary Clinton sown up quite yet. As recently as last week, it seemed no one else would consider the race, prompting Karl Rove’s office to start helping Spencer with a campaign strategy. This week, however, Kathleen Troia McFarland (R), a former speechwriter and public affairs official at the Defense Department during the Reagan administration, indicated she might run. McFarland, generally considered a moderate, was reportedly considering a campaign against Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D), but may now switch over to the Senate race.
* In Washington, the latest Rasmussen poll shows Sen. Maria Cantwell (D) leading businessman Mike McGavick (R), 50% to 36%. Cantwell’s overall approval rating stands at 57%.
* Sen. George Allen (R-Va.) may be a leading presidential candidate for 2008, but his re-election this year is hardly a foregone conclusion. The latest Rasmussen poll in Virginia shows Allen leading both of his Dem rivals, but he’s below the 50% threshold. Allen is ahead of businessman Harris Miller (D), 48% to 35%, and leads former Secretary of the Navy James Webb, 49% to 37%.
* And in Montana, Sen. Conrad Burns (R), whose Abramoff connections have become an albatross, appears to be in big trouble in the latest Rasmussen poll. Burns, who has enjoyed small but steady leads for months, is now tied with state Senate President Jon Tester (D), 46% to 46%, and trails State Auditor John Morrison (D), 50% to 43%.