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:
* We’ve long known that the Florida Republican establishment is less-than thrilled with Rep. [tag]Katherine Harris[/tag]’ (R) Senate campaign, but it’s apparently worse than we knew. About three months ago, the Florida Republican Party officially told Harris, in writing, that the party wouldn’t support her campaign. Contacted yesterday, those same GOP officials said nothing has changed.
* In Missouri, a new Rasmussen poll shows state Auditor [tag]Claire McCaskill[/tag] (D) moving ahead of incumbent Sen. [tag]Jim Talent[/tag] (R), 45% to 42%. In late June, Rasmussen showed the two tied at 42%.
* Florida’s gubernatorial contest is looking considerably more competitive than it was a couple of weeks ago. A new Rasmussen poll shows Republican Attorney General [tag]Charlie Crist[/tag], who was leading Rep. [tag]Jim Davis[/tag] (D) by double digits a month ago, now up by five, 47% to 42%. Crist’s lead over state Sen. [tag]Rod Smith[/tag] (D) is still big, with Crist leading 48% to 35%.
* Kansas Gov. [tag]Kathleen Sebelius[/tag] (D) appears to be in a very good position for re-election, according to a new Rasmussen poll. Sebelius now leads former state House Speaker [tag]Robin Jennison[/tag], 52% to 31%, and state Sen. [tag]Jim Barnett[/tag], 51% to 34%. Both leads are slightly larger now than they were a month ago.
* And in Washington state, where the Senate race has narrowed considerably in recent months, a new Rasmussen poll shows incumbent Sen. [tag]Maria Cantwell[/tag] (D) with a little breathing room for a change. The results, released yesterday afternoon, show Cantwell leading businessman [tag]Mike McGavick[/tag] (R) by 11 points, 48% to 37%. It’s Cantwell’s biggest lead in a Rasmussen poll since March.