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
* In the unlikely event you haven’t heard, this<\/a> is one of the more impressive fundraising achievements I’ve ever seen: “Democratic Sen. Barack Obama raised a record $55 million in February for his presidential campaign, eclipsing rival Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton’s own substantial fundraising for the month. All told, Obama has raised $193 million during his yearlong bid for the White House. Obama’s February total was his second fundraising record. He raised $36 million in January, more than any other presidential candidate who has ever been in a contested primary. His combined January and February totals nearly matched what he raised last year.”<\/p>\n * Retired Col. Larry Wilkerson, former chief of staff to Secretary of State Colin Powell, doesn’t sound optimistic<\/a> about John McCain’s temperament, saying that with McCain “[n]o dissent, no opinion to the contrary, however reasonable, will be entertained.” Wilkerson added that McCain is “hardheaded,” “arrogant,” “hubristic,” and “too proud for his own good.” Referring to McCain’s foreign policy advisers, Wilkerson said: They “scare me.” “Scare<\/i> me.”<\/p>\n * In a comment that was intended to be off the record, Samantha Power, an Obama aide, told a Scottish newspaper she thought Hillary Clinton “is a monster<\/a>” who is “stooping to anything.” Power apologized<\/a> this morning, saying, “These comments do not reflect my feelings about Sen. Clinton, whose leadership and public service I have long admired.” The Clinton campaign has rejected the apology, and wants Power fired<\/a>.<\/p>\n * It looks like Ron Paul is just about done<\/a>, though he’s urging his followers to stick together and plan future phases for their collective efforts.<\/p>\n * In case there was any doubt that McCain is considering Florida Gov. Charlie Crist as a possible running mate, yesterday, McCain described Crist<\/a> as “one of the greatest governors in the history of this country.” Crist has been on the job for just one year, suggesting this was a wee bit of hyperbole. * I think it’s a trend<\/a>: “More people say they are Democrats than said so before voting started in this year’s presidential contests while the number of Republicans has remained flat, a survey showed Thursday. The Associated Press-Ipsos poll had additional bad news for the GOP: The number of independents and moderates satisfied with President Bush and the country’s direction has dipped to record or near-record lows.”<\/p>\n * Senate Democrats, believe it or not, continue to believe it’s at least possible<\/a> to get to 60 seats next year: “For Democrats hoping the November elections set off a seismic shift in Washington, the dream scenario is not just capturing the White House, but also winning a filibuster-proof majority of 60 seats in the Senate…. As far-fetched as that might seem \u2014 Democrats now control the Senate by a razor-thin 51 to 49, thanks only to two independents who vote with them \u2014 some Democrats have started thinking aloud that such a scenario is within reach.”<\/p>\n
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\n* Earlier this week, Rush Limbaugh implored his listeners to vote for Clinton in Tuesday’s contests. Did it make any difference? Maybe in Texas<\/a>.<\/p>\n