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
* Former Sen. Fred Thompson (R-Tenn.) seems to be one step closer to launching a presidential campaign today, with a visit to DC<\/a> where he’ll “meet with Republican House members who are interested in his potential candidacy. Rep. Zach Wamp, R-Tenn., one of those pushing a Thompson run, arranged for the meeting at the National Republican Club of Capitol Hill.” Wamp said conservatives “are looking at the current field and saying, ‘No one here excites me, and Fred Thompson excites me.'” As many as 60 congressional Republicans may attend the meeting.<\/p>\n * Former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson (R) is still feeling the heat after telling a Jewish group the other day that earning money is “part of the Jewish tradition.” Yesterday, Thompson got a little snippy<\/a> about it during an interview with a group of Politico reporters and editors. “I was tired, I made a mistake and I apologized. Have you ever made a mistake?”<\/p>\n * On a related note, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has called on Thompson to drop out<\/a> of the presidential race. “Gaffes are nothing new to Thompson. But this was said to give him the aura of the average Wisconsin guy. No. The average Wisconsin guy deserves more credit.”<\/p>\n