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 former House Majority Leader [tag]Tom DeLay[/tag] (R) stepping aside for a write-in candidate in his Texas district, would-be successors are already starting to position themselves as DeLay’s heir. ABC News reports that Sugarland Mayor [tag]David Wallace[/tag], who wanted to replace DeLay on the ballot before the Texas GOP lost its court fights, is “extremely close” to announcing that he will be a write-in candidate. Houston City Councilwoman [tag]Shelley Sekula-Gibbs[/tag] also expressed interest in the race.
* Speaking of disgraced House Republicans who won’t be back next year, Rep. [tag]Bob Ney[/tag]’s (R) hand-picked replacement in his Ohio district, state Sen. [tag]Joy Padgett[/tag] (R), may be ineligible.
* In Michigan yesterday, Oakland County Sheriff [tag]Mike Bouchard[/tag] easily beat the Rev. [tag]Keith Butler[/tag] in a GOP Senate primary, 60% to 40%. Bouchard will now take on incumbent Sen. [tag]Debbie Stabenow[/tag] (D) in November, though recent polls show Stabenow with a comfortable lead.
* In Alabama, Gov. [tag]Bob Riley[/tag] (R), once considered an endangered incumbent, now appears to be in a strong position for a second term. The latest Rasmussen poll shows Riley leading Lt. Gov. [tag]Lucy Baxley[/tag] (D), 55% to 35%. The 20-point margin expands on the 14-point lead Riley enjoyed in last month’s Rasmussen poll.
* In non-Lieberman news out of Connecticut, New Haven Mayor [tag]John DeStefano[/tag] narrowly defeated Stamford Mayor [tag]Dan Malloy[/tag] in yesterday’s Dem gubernatorial primary. DeStefano will now face incumbent Republican Gov. M. [tag]Jodi Rell[/tag] in November, though recent polls show Rell in the driver’s seat.
* And in Vermont, the latest Rasmussen poll shows Rep. [tag]Bernie Sanders[/tag] (I) with a comfortable lead over businessman [tag]Richard Tarrant[/tag] in the state’s open Senate race, 62% to 34%. The poll showed Sanders with broad popularity statewide, with 52% of Vermonters saying they have a very favorable opinion of the Senate-hopeful.