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:<\/p>\n
* Wesley Clark, appearing before a friendly audience yesterday, was asked whether there was any chance he’d launch a presidential campaign within the next three months. Clark said he wouldn’t<\/a>, because he believes his ideas are taken more seriously as a non-candidate. (Given this field, if Clark isn’t going to announce in the next three months, he probably won’t announce at all.)<\/p>\n * John Edwards raised a few eyebrows yesterday when he told Beliefnet.com that Jesus would be appalled<\/a> at how the United States has neglected millions of families in need. “I think that Jesus would be disappointed in our ignoring the plight of those around us who are suffering and our focus on our own selfish short-term needs,” Edwards told the site. “I think he would be appalled, actually.” He also disagreed with the notion that America is a “Christian nation,” though he said, “Certainly by way of heritage — there’s a powerful Christian thread through all of American history.”<\/p>\n * Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) shows no signs of slowing his presidential bid and hired<\/a> two senior campaign staffers in Iowa this week. CNN reported, “Marc Beltrame, an aide for Iowa Rep. Leonard Boswell, will head Dodd’s campaign in the early-voting state, according to a statement. Taylor West, formerly press secretary for Chet Culver’s successful Iowa gubernatorial campaign last fall, has signed on as Dodd’s press secretary in the Hawkeye State.”<\/p>\n