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
* Politico<\/a>: “The Obama campaign has scheduled a conference call with campaign manager David Plouffe and other top aides to re-assure gay donors and other backers who are angry at the inclusion of a gospel singer hostile to homosexuality, Donnie McClurken, in Obama’s South Carolina gospel tour, one supporter advised of the call said. ‘They’re trying to put out the fire,’ said the gay Obama supporter of the call planned for this evening. He said he hoped heads would roll. ‘Somebody made the decision [to include McClurken] and somebody approved the decision,’ the supporter said. ‘The question is, Will he hold someone accountable?'”<\/p>\n * Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are trading fire over Iran policy, but mainly through the mail<\/a>. Over the weekend, Clinton, apparently concerned about the issue, did a major mailing in Iowa about her position, saying her vote on Kyl-Lieberman was not an endorsement for military action. Obama sent out his own mailing on the issue today, which read in part, “Why is this amendment so dangerous? Because George Bush and Dick Cheney could use this language to justify keeping our troops in Iraq as long as they can point to a threat from Iran. And because they could use this language to justify an attack on Iran as a part of the ongoing war in Iraq.”<\/p>\n * It will probably be wrapping up shortly, but FireDogLake is hosting an online chat<\/a> with Chris Dodd this morning, and he’ll be fielding questions live from bloggers and blog commenters.<\/p>\n * Rep. Tom Davis (R), up until recently a top contender in Virginia’s open U.S. Senate race, apparently doesn’t want to lose to former Gov. Mark Warner (D). Davis will reportedly announce later this week that he will not run<\/a> for the seat, but will instead seek re-election to the House. With Davis out, former Gov. James Gilmore (R) is expected to be the Republican candidate next fall.<\/p>\n * Speaking of Senate withdrawals, Texan Mikal Watts, a leading candidate to take on Sen. John Cornyn (R) next year, bowed out this morning<\/a>. Watts, who has three young children, said in a statement, “After spending the last several months putting everything into this campaign, I have seen the toll this effort has taken on my young children. For these reasons, my wife and I have made the decision that I will not be seeking the Democratic nomination for the United States Senate in 2008.” With Watts out, state Rep. Rick Noriega is the likely Democratic candidate for the statewide race. * Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.), an unheralded hero on many progressive issues, has drawn a challenger<\/a> for next year’s re-election fight: businesswoman Anne Evans Estabrook.<\/p>\n * Bill Richardson is facing renewed criticism for his ongoing support of Don Imus. “Despite Imus’ history of on-air racial blunders, Democratic Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico and Republican Sen. John McCain of Arizona said they would return to Imus’ show, saying the talker deserves a second chance.” Markos isn’t going for it<\/a>.<\/p>\n * I can’t vouch for her veracity, so I’m just passing this along<\/a>: “In Shirley MacLaine’s new book, the actress and longtime friend of Dennis Kucinich makes an interesting claim: During a visit to her home in Washington state, Kucinich said he saw a UFO and heard messages from it. ‘Dennis found his encounter extremely moving,’ MacLaine writes…. ‘It hovered, soundless, for 10 minutes or so, and sped away with a speed he couldn’t comprehend. He said he felt a connection in his heart and heard directions in his mind.'”<\/p>\n * Former Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist endorsed<\/a> Fred Thompson’s presidential campaign yesterday. Chances are, no one cares.<\/p>\n
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\n* All of a sudden, Giuliani is opposed to gay marriage, but in August 2001, after the mayor’s infidelity got him thrown out of Gracie Mansion, Giuliani moved in with a gay couple, Howard Koeppel and his partner, Mark Hsiao. Giuliani reportedly told Koeppel<\/a> that “if they ever legalized gay marriages, we would be the first one he would do.”<\/p>\n