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:
* Barack Obama’s first foray into New Hampshire seems to have paid dividends. Two weeks after his initial trip, Obama finds himself nearly even with Hillary Clinton in a statewide poll of 2008 hopefuls. The results, published by the Concord Monitor, found Clinton in the lead with 22% support, Obama right behind her with 21%, followed by John Edwards at 16%. Last month, a Monitor poll showed Clinton leading Obama by 23 points.
* Speaking of New Hampshire, the same Concord Monitor poll, looking ahead to the GOP presidential primary, shows Rudy Giuliani with the narrowest of leads over John McCain, 26% to 25%. Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney was third with 10% support.
* Former Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber (D) has been mulling a return to politics for a few years now, but he has reportedly ruled out taking on Sen. Gordon Smith (R-Ore.) in 2008. Possible Dems for the race include Democratic Reps. Earl Blumenauer and Peter DeFazio, and State Sen. Ben Westlund, who recently became a Dem after leaving the GOP. (thanks to B.P. for the tip)
* According to Bob Novak, who’s hardly neutral on the subject, Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco (D) remains undecided on whether to seek a second term in 2007. Speculation is apparently focused on Rep. Charles Melancon (D), a Blanco ally, who was described by one party leader as a “conservative Democrat, the kind of Democrat that Louisiana likes to elect. He’s pretty much what we’re looking for.”
* And Mitt Romney’s presidential announcement appears slated for the week of January 8th, according to a campaign aide who spoke to the AP, following the official filing with the FEC next week. The AP article explained, “The timing is somewhat dependent on when Sen. John McCain of Arizona makes an expected announcement about his own campaign for the GOP nomination, the Romney aide said.”