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:
* Just a few months after begging her to take on [tag]Hillary Clinton[/tag] in New York’s Senate race, Kathleen “KT” [tag]McFarland[/tag] is now under pressure to drop out. The New York Daily News reports today that the state GOP is gearing up to “nudge” McFarland out and state party chairman Steve Minarik will ask her to step aside and allow former Yonkers Mayor [tag]John Spencer[/tag] to get the Republican nomination. McFarland spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said any attempt to get the candidate to quit would be “futile.”
* Speaking of New York, [tag]Eliot Spitzer[/tag] (D) still enjoys a 50-point lead in his gubernatorial campaign, according to a new Newsday poll. The survey was conducted before Bill Weld dropped out of the race, but considering Spitzer’s lead over everyone, it hardly seems to matter.
* In New Hampshire, the DCCC has broken its rule about staying out of Dem House primaries and has endorsed state House Minority Leader [tag]Jim Craig[/tag] (D) in the race against Rep. [tag]Jeb Bradley[/tag] (R). According to Roll Call, Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.), co-chairwoman of the DCCC’s “Red to Blue” program, cited Craig’s “high-profile, effective grass-roots organization and active fundraising efforts.”
* In 2008 news, former Virginia Gov. [tag]Mark Warner[/tag] was interviewed on New York’s NY1 News last night, and offered some subtle criticism of Hillary Clinton’s presidential chances. After saying he had “tremendous respect” for Mrs. Clinton and calling her a “formidable candidate” for national office, Warner said that Clinton was not the presumptive Democratic nominee. “We need to not simply look at the personality, but look at the ideas,” he said. “But I find all across the country there is a real sense that what we as Democrats have to do is not simply be competitive in 16 or 17 states, but actually have candidates that can win all across the country.”
* In yesterday’s gubernatorial primaries, [tag]Angelides[/tag] (D-Calif), [tag]Culver[/tag] (D-Iowa), [tag]Riley[/tag] (R-Ala.), and [tag]Baxley[/tag] (D-Ala.) were big winners.
* In yesterday’s senatorial primaries, [tag]Tester[/tag] (D-Mont.), [tag]Burns[/tag] (R-Mont.), [tag]Menendez[/tag] (D-N.J.), and [tag]Kean[/tag] (R-N.J.) all won.