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:
* As recently as a couple of months ago, the Republican field of gubernatorial candidates in Iowa was wide open and crowded. Now, it’s over. Yesterday, businessman Bob Vander Plaats (R) announced that he was dropping his campaign and would instead run as Rep. Jim Nussle’s running mate. The formal announcement is expected tomorrow.
* In Pennsylvania, Gov. Ed Rendell (D) is leading former football player Lynn Swann (R) in the state’s gubernatorial race, but not by much. According to a new Rasmussen poll, Rendell leads Swann, 46% to 43%.
* Illinois’ GOP candidates for governor met for their first debate yesterday, and the frontrunner, state treasurer Judy Baar Topinka, bore the brunt of the criticism as her rivals sought to keep up. Jim Oberweis, Bill Brady, and Ron Gidwitz specifically criticized Topinka for having taken hundreds of thousands of dollars in contributions from firms that do business with her public office.
* Ex-Rep. Robert Shamansky (D-Ohio) left the House over 20 years ago, but now the 78-year-old former lawmaker wants to make a comeback. Shamansky filed the paperwork last week to take on three-term Republican incumbent Patrick Tiberi in Ohio’s 12 congressional district. Shamansky will face software engineer Nick Singh in a Dem primary.
* Arizona’s Senate race took an ugly turn yesterday when State Sen. Jack Harper (R) said the recent arrest of 24-year-old James Robert Pederson, son of Senate candidate Jim Pederson, “points to a culture of corruption in the Pederson household.” To their credit, several of Harper’s GOP colleagues denounced the attack. “This kind of attack has got to stop on this floor,” Republican Sen. Carolyn Allen said. “It is one thing to discuss and attack a candidate. We’re talking about a son.” Harper refused to apologize.