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:
* With less than a week to go before the special congressional election in Ohio’s 2nd congressional district, underdog Dem and Iraq-war veteran Paul Hackett received a surprising endorsement yesterday from the editorial board of The Cincinnati Post, which has been generally supportive of GOP candidates. “We like Hackett’s candor,” The Post wrote. “We’re impressed with the freshness of his ideas. We believe his experience shows him to be someone who is action-oriented.”
* Confirming months of rumors, New York Gov. George Pataki (R), in about five minutes, will announce that will he will not seek a fourth term as governor. Pataki told his top aides and supporters of his decision at a hastily arranged meeting at the governor’s mansion last night. Pataki, meanwhile, continues to consider a presidential campaign, reminding his audience last night of his fondness for Iowa.
* Pataki leaves no obvious heir apparent, though speculation surrounds New York Secretary of State Randy Daniels (R) and billionaire Tom Golisano, who ran against Pataki in 2002 as an independent. Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R) has ruled out the governor’s race.
* Speaking of gubernatorial races, real estate developer and state Sen. Bill Brady (R) announced yesterday that he’s running for governor in Illinois. Brady is one of at least seven Republicans hoping to take on incumbent Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D) in 2006.
* In even more gubernatorial news, Felix Alvarado, an assistant principal at a Fort Worth-area middle school, plans to run for governor of Texas next year as a Dem. It will be Alvarado’s third campaign for political office, following two unsuccessful congressional campaigns.