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
* After several months of lackluster fundraising, John Edwards’ presidential campaign will reverse itself and opt into the public finance system<\/a>. The former senator insisted he made the decision out of a heartfelt commitment to the system, but the claim is not entirely credible — he’s accepting the constraints (including spending caps) that come with public funds because he needs the money to keep up with Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. Marc Ambinder goes over the pros and cons<\/a> of Edwards’ controversial decision.<\/p>\n * For every person who believes the Democratic primary race is effectively over, consider this tidbit from the latest CNN\/WMUR poll in New Hampshire: 55% of Granite State Democrats are still “trying to decide”<\/a> which presidential candidate to support.<\/p>\n * John McCain, more so than at any point in his political career, is relying on his military background to get ahead with voters. Yesterday, his campaign unveiled its newest TV ad<\/a>: “[It] opens with black-and-white footage of a haggard and badly injured 31-year-old McCain being interrogated by an off-camera enemy. The footage is from 1967, when he was a prisoner of war in Vietnam. McCain lies on a bed, holding a burning cigarette, grimacing in pain. The camera pans to a heavily bandaged arm.”<\/p>\n * Edwards suffered a little more bad news yesterday when his work with the Fortress Investment Group hedge fund came back to cause him some embarrassment<\/a>: Fortress companies foreclosed on sub-prime mortgage borrowers in Iowa<\/i> — 107 of them, to be exact — while Edwards worked with the firm.”<\/p>\n * It appears that Michelle Obama was misquoted yesterday when she said her husband’s race was dependent on an Iowa victory. “Iowa will make the difference,” she said<\/a>. “If Barack doesn’t win Iowa, it is just a dream.” The campaign said the candidate’s spouse was just trying to rally Iowa supporters, not make an official pronouncement.<\/p>\n * The crowded Republican primary in Nebraska’s open Senate race will get a little thinner today when Hal Daub ends his campaign<\/a>, just 12 days after throwing his hat into the ring. Daub’s announcement comes on the heels of former Gov. Mike Johanns’ resignation from the Bush administration and expected entry into the race.<\/p>\n