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:
* Rep. Benjamin L. Cardin (D-Md.), a member of the House of Representatives since 1987, made his Senate campaign official yesterday with a kick-off event in Baltimore. Cardin joins former congressman and NAACP leader Kweisi Mfume in the Dem field. Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D) has formed an exploratory committee and is weighing his options.
* Now that Cardin is giving up his seat, the race is on to replace him. Baltimore City Health Commissioner Peter Beilenson (D) is “seriously” considering the race. He’d likely face a variety of state lawmakers, including state Del. Jon Cardin, state Sen. Paula Hollinger, Del. Maggie McIntosh, Anne Arundel County Executive Janet Owens, Del. Neil Quinter, and Del. Bobby Zirkin.
* Georgia Secretary of State Cathy Cox (D) will have to get by Lt. Gov. Mark Taylor (D) in a primary before next year’s gubernatorial election, but at this early stage, Cox clearly has the advantage against incumbent Gov. Sonny Perdue (R). In a Zogby International poll, Perdue leads Taylor by 13 points, but Cox and Perdue were dead even.
* Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas) continues to consider challenging Gov. Rick Perry (R) in a gubernatorial primary campaign, but party leaders continue to hope they can talk her out of it. Hutchison’s home county GOP chairman sent an email around Texas on Tuesday urging his fellow chairs to ask Hutchison to stay out of the race in order to avoid dividing the party.
* Speaking of congressional Republicans thinking about running for governor, Rep. Jim Nussle (R-Iowa) is getting widespread encouragement from Republicans in the Iowa Legislature. At this point, more than three-quarters of the GOP legislators have signed a letter encouraging Nussle to run for governor with their support.
* Despite falling poll numbers at home and progressive positions on social issues, New York Gov. George Pataki continues to consider a presidential campaign in 2008. Pataki said yesterday he wants to be part of the “policy debate” at the national level in the coming months. He wouldn’t commit to running, but when asked if he had ruled it out, Pataki said, “I’m not ruling it out. That’s correct. Not at all.”
* New Media Communications, an Ohio-based Internet strategy company that’s helping Rick “Man on Dog” Santorum in his Senate campaign, has bought domain names such as ricksantorum2008.com, just in case. Bob Casey’s campaign responded: “This is just more evidence that serving the people of Pennsylvania is not Rick Santorum’s top priority. I think it’s safe to say that Pennsylvania would be better served having a senator focused on doing a good job for Pennsylvania than by a senator focused on becoming president. In any case, after he is defeated in 2006, Mr. Santorum will have plenty of time on his hands to pursue his presidential ambitions.”
* The polls are finally looking up for New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg (R). In the wake of a controversy surrounding Fernando Ferrer’s controversial remarks about the Amadou Diallo shooting, Bloomberg now leads his top Dem rival in a a head-to-head match-up, 51% to 38%. A month ago, Ferrer led Bloomberg, 49% to 42%.