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
* Hillary Clinton got a little help in California<\/a> yesterday: “California Rep. Maxine Waters, a powerful member of the Congressional Black Caucus, announced in a conference call with reporters she has decided to back Clinton’s White House bid. Waters said Clinton ‘understands the daily challenges that people are facing and she will fight for them every day she is in the White House.'”<\/p>\n * Barack Obama’s victory in South Carolina appears to be paying dividends<\/a>: “Obama’s campaign has raised more than $4 million online over the past couple of days, said Obama campaign manager David Plouffe in a campaign memo released on Monday. ‘Our strong donor base provides us sustainability, allowing us to be financially competitive — if not superior — heading into the rest of February and March,’ he wrote in the memo. ‘In the last two and a half days, we have raised over $4 million online alone.'”<\/p>\n * Joe Lieberman told the AP<\/a> yesterday that if John McCain asked him to be his running mate, he’d say, “Thanks, John, I’ve been there, I’ve done that. You can find much better.” He added, however, that he may attend the Republican convention if McCain wins the GOP nomination. “I’d probably be more welcome there,” he said.<\/p>\n * Former President Jimmy Carter has said he will not offer a formal endorsement in the Democratic primaries, but he had some kind words<\/a> for Obama yesterday. “Obama’s campaign has been extraordinary and titillating for me and my family,” Carter told the Wall Street Journal. He added that Obama “will be almost automatically a healing factor in the animosity now that exists, that relates to our country and its government.”<\/p>\n * It looks like those waiting for Al Gore to make an endorsement will have to wait quite a bit longer<\/a>: “An adviser said that Mr. Gore had long ago decided to lay low once the Democratic delegate selection contests began so as not to interfere in the race. Last night, a close adviser said ‘nothing has changed’ with regard to Mr. Gore’s decision to keep mum about an endorsement.” * Ralph Nader is launching an exploratory website<\/a>. This makes me unhappy.<\/p>\n
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\n* Obama picked up an endorsement in Arizona yesterday from Rep. Raul Grijalva<\/a> (D), who had originally backed Edwards in May. In the statement explaining his switch to Obama, Grijalva said it “was not a repudiation of Senator Edwards, rather the understanding that Senator Barack Obama is the future.” The announcement was made before Edwards’ announced withdrawal.<\/p>\n