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:
* In the 17-candidate race to replace former Rep. Christopher Cox (R-Calif.), State Sen. John Campbell (R) led the pack, but will have to go through the motions in the general election later this year. Campbell won 46% of the vote, far ahead of any challenger, but because he fell short of the 50% threshold, the top candidates from each party will meet on Dec. 6. In addition to Campbell, the ballot will feature Democrat Steve Young, Libertarian Bruce Cohen, American Independent Jim Gilchrist, and Bea Tiritilli of the Green Party. This is a coastal Orange County district, where registered Republicans outnumber Democrats by 2-to-1.
* A new Quinnipiac poll shows Gov. Ed. Rendell (D-Pa.) slipping a bit in popularity — his approval rating is down to 46% — but he continues to enjoy big leads over his potential Republican rivals. Former Lt. Gov. Bill Scranton (R) and former football player Lynn Swann (R) come the closest in hypothetical head-to-head match-ups, but Rendell leads both, 47% to 34%.
* A new Quinnipiac poll in New York shows State Attorney General Eliot Spitzer (D) continuing to enjoy huge leads over his potential Republican rivals in next year’s gubernatorial campaign. Thomas Golisano (R) comes closest — and he trails by 34 points (56% to 22%). As for the Republican primary, Golisano leads John Faso 33% to 8%. Former Massachusetts Gov. William Weld trailed with 6%.
* The same New York poll also showed Sen. Hillary Clinton with a big lead going into her re-election campaign. Clinton leads lawyer Edward Cox 62% to 30% and Westchester District Attorney Jeanine Pirro 61% to 30%. As for their GOP primary, Pirro leads Cox, 40% to 25%.
* In Nebraska, former Nebraska attorney general Don Stenberg (R) formally kicked off his Senate campaign against Sen. Ben Nelson (D) yesterday. If Stenberg gets the GOP nod, this will be a rematch of the 2000 race in which Nelson won a tight race, 51% to 49%.
* Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney (R) hasn’t said for sure whether he’ll seek re-election next year, but as he tests the presidential waters, voters at home are souring on him. A new University of Massachusetts poll shows Romney tailing in hypothetical match-ups against likely Dem rivalsm uncluding State Attorney General Tom Reilly (38% to 53%) and Secretary of State William Galvin (42% to 46%). Romney does lead Deval Patrick in the poll, 42% to 37%. Assuming Romney does not run, all three Dems lead Lt. Gov. Kerry Healey (R) in hypothetical match-ups.