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
* The Clinton campaign seems to be raising expectations<\/a> regarding North Carolina, where Obama has been considered the favorite. Clinton said on Friday, “This primary election on Tuesday is a game changer. This is going to make a huge difference in what happens going forward. The entire country — probably even a lot of the world — is looking to see what North Carolina decides.”<\/p>\n * Speaking of North Carolina, the latest Zogby tracking poll<\/a> still shows Obama ahead in the state, 48% to 39%. Zogby also shows Obama with a narrow lead in Indiana, 43% to 41%, though nearly every other polling outlet shows Clinton ahead.<\/p>\n * And speaking of Indiana, the latest InsiderAdvantage poll<\/a> shows Clinton leading Obama by seven, 47% to 40%. A Suffolk University poll<\/a> has her up by six, 49% to 43%.<\/p>\n * Obama has picked up some new superdelegates, with endorsements from New Mexico Party Chairman Brian Colon<\/a>, Guam’s Jaime Paulino<\/a>, and DNC member Kalyn Free.<\/p>\n * An on-screen graphic in McCain’s new TV ad describes him as “President McCain<\/a>.” Is the election over? Did I miss it?<\/p>\n * The WSJ reported<\/a> today that Obama privately assured the Teamsters that he supports ending strict federal oversight over the union, which in turn helped Obama win the Teamsters’ endorsement. The Clinton campaign is criticizing<\/a> Obama for secrecy, though the Obama campaign responded<\/a> that Obama’s position has been consistent and public for four years. * This speech<\/a> in North Carolina tomorrow should be interesting: “John McCain’s campaign said Friday that Fred Thompson and Sam Brownback will join the presumptive GOP nominee in North Carolina next week for a major speech on judicial appointments. Both Thompson and Brownback have endorsed the Arizona senator, and both Republicans presented themselves throughout the Republican primary battle as ‘consistent conservatives,’ particularly regarding social issues and judicial appointments.”<\/p>\n * The Clinton campaign has an aggressive new direct-mail piece in Indiana, attacking Obama on gun control<\/a>. The mailing has drawn some unwelcome interest<\/a> from firearm enthusiasts: “Sen. Hillary Clinton’s mailing attacking Sen. Barack Obama’s record on guns appears to include a striking visual gaffe: The image of the gun pictured on the face of the mailing is reversed, making it a nonexistent left-handed model of the Mauser 66 rifle. To make matters worse, a prominent gun dealer said, it’s an expensive German gun with customized features that make it clearly European.”<\/p>\n * Rasmussen<\/a> has Obama leading in Oregon by 12, 51% to 39%. Oregonians will vote two weeks from tomorrow.<\/p>\n * Speaking of May 20, Obama was endorsed by the Louisville Courier-Journal<\/a>, Kentucky’s largest newspaper.<\/p>\n
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\n* Citing Obama’s position against the “gas-tax holiday” promoted by McCain and Clinton, environmental activist group Friends Of The Earth Action endorsed<\/a> the Illinois senator late last week. “The two other candidates responded with sham solutions that won’t ease pain at the pump, but Senator Obama refused to play that typical Washington game,” group’s president, Brent Blackwelder, said. “Instead, Obama called for real solutions that would make transportation more affordable and curb global warming. He showed the courage and candor we expect from a president.”<\/p>\n