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:
* Businessman Ned Lamont (D) kicked off his Senate campaign yesterday against Sen. Joseph Lieberman (D) in Connecticut. “Some of the party brass has suggested, ‘Ned, we don’t want to lose a safe seat,’.” he said, apparently alluding to Nancy DiNardo, the state Democratic chairwoman. “Madam Chairman, we’re a progressive state. You’re not going to lose a senator. You’re going to gain a Democrat.” As if to address Lieberman personally, Lamont said: “Senator, I wish you didn’t need to be challenged. But you’ve changed and we haven’t.”
* Just to help keep everyone on their toes, the Tampa Tribune reported today that Rep. Katherine Harris (R-Fla.) will make a “major announcement” this week about her Senate campaign, but GOP insiders are saying it won’t be drop out of the race. The Tribune reported, “[S]ome party stalwarts expect an attempt by Harris, well-known for her dramatic flair, to convince party leaders she is in the race to stay and to distract voters from the negative publicity she has experienced recently.” A spokesman for the Republican National Senatorial Committee added, “We’re expecting her to stay in the race, to be honest with you.”
* The GOP field of Arizona gubernatorial candidates got a little thinner yesterday former state Senate President John Greene (R) withdrew from the race. Greene was the first candidate to throw his hat into the ring, when he entered the race last July. At this point, Gov. Janet Napolitano’s (D) most likely rival will be Don Goldwater (R), whom she is crushing in statewide polls.
* In Illinois’ GOP gubernatorial primary, State Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka still leads the field in the latest Chicago Tribune/WGN poll, but not with as big a lead as she once had. With one week until the March 21 primary election, Topinka garnered 36% support, followed by businessman Jim Oberweis with 21%, state Sen. Bill Brady at 15%, and businessman Ron Gidwitz at 9%.
* It’s speculation at this point, but many are beginning to wonder if Sen. Conrad Burns (R-Mont.), who is up to his ears in the Abramoff scandal, is considering a move to drop out of the Senate race. Burns, who is trailing his Dem rivals in statewide polls, is making national GOP leaders nervous. Rumors abound.
* Literally just four days after announcing his retirement, Rep. Elton Gallegly (R-Calif.) will reverse course and hold a press conference today to say that he’s seeking another term after all. Gallegly’s retirement announcement was a bit of a disaster for the GOP because the filing deadline has elapsed in his district and Republicans could not legally get another candidate onto the ballot. A House Republican aide familiar with the conversations said that Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.), National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Tom Reynolds (N.Y.) and others spent Monday recommending to Gallegly that he run for and serve one more term.