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:
* After the GOP invested far more time and effort than it wanted to, Republicans won two special election House races yesterday. State Rep. Bob Latta (R) held off a challenge in Ohio’s 5th congressional district, defeating Robin Weirauch (D), 57% to 43%. State Del. Rob Wittman (R) defeated Iraq war veteran Philip Forgit (D) in Virginia’s 1st congressional district, 61% to 37%.
* Hoping to put a positive spin on two (largely expected) defeats, DCCC Chairman Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) said, “National Republicans, right wing special interest groups, and 527’s, like Freedom’s Watch, are alive and well in Republican House races. They poured more than $500,000 in to save Bob Latta in a 39% Democratic performing district. Tom Cole and the NRCC spending 20 percent of their cash on hand to retain one of the most Republican districts in the country — priceless.”
* A new CNN/WMUR poll in New Hampshire shows the Democratic race in the first primary state just about tied. According to the results, released this morning, Hillary Clinton now leads Barack Obama, 31% to 30%. Since the CNN/WMUR poll in November, Clinton has lost five points, and Obama has gained eight.
* The same poll found Mike Huckabee Mitt Romney hanging onto his sizable lead in New Hampshire, leading the GOP pack with 32% support, followed by Rudy Giuliani and John McCain who are tied with 19% each. Mike Huckabee is surging everywhere, except the Granite State, where he remains in single digits — 9%. (Fred Thompson’s support has dropped to just 1% in the state.)
* Romney got some very good news on the endorsement front yesterday when the National Review, arguably the most important publication of the conservative movement, threw its backing to the former Massachusetts governor.
* John Edwards raised a few eyebrows yesterday when he told an Iowa audience that he has been aggressive about ending the war in Iraq “from the very beginning.” A campaign spokesman later said that Edwards was referring to the beginning of his presidential campaign.
* Mike Huckabee had all kinds of interesting things to say in the early 1990s. In the latest example, Huckabee told the AP in 1992, “The U.S. should not kill Saddam Hussein or anyone else.” I imagine if a Democrat had said that, Republicans might have a few things to say about it.
* The Des Moines Register’s David Yepsen is all worked up about out-of-state students participating in Iowa’s caucuses. I’m not sure why — the Iowa Secretary of State actively instructs students how to do it. Wouldn’t Yepsen want more people participating in the process, especially young people?
* Apparently, Fred Thompson has decided to become too folksy. Asked about his national security policy yesterday in South Carolina, the former senator said, “The good guys win and the bad guys lose — how ’bout that?” Asked about his economic policy, he said, “Free people, free markets, doin’ free things together.” Asked if even more tax cuts would lead to lost revenue, Thompson responded, “It ain’t lost, it’s in my pocket.” Asked how he came to arrive at his views on healthcare policy, he said, “I had a conversation with my little mama back in Franklin, Tennessee.” I guess it’s easier than offering substance.
* MSNBC last night noted a poll I hadn’t seen before. Republicans were asked which of the Democratic candidates would make the best president. Obama was first with 23%, followed by Edwards at 18%, and Richardson at 14%. When the inverse was asked of Dems about the Republican field, Giuliani and McCain were tied at 24%, followed by Romney at 12%, and Huckabee at 11%.
* And finally, I was taken aback when I saw that ABC News had John Stossel interview Ron Paul. I mean, really, were none of Paul’s immediate family members available?