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
* Hot off the presses, a new Quinnipiac University poll<\/a> shows Pennsylvania Treasurer Bob Casey with a big lead over Sen. Rick “Man on Dog” Santorum, 49% to 35%. In February, Casey led by five (46-41). 34% of poll respondents said they were less likely to vote for Santorum in light of his highly visible role in the Terri Schiavo case. One in four say Santorum is “too conservative.”<\/p>\n * Former Sen. Bob Kerrey’s on-again, off-again interest in the New York mayoral race is apparently over<\/a>. Kerrey said yesterday he had decided against running and will continue to serve as president of the New School University.<\/p>\n * While Republicans have had trouble finding a top-tier candidate to take on Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) next year, they’re still working on it. Ronald Weiser, a former U.S. ambassador to Slovakia and major Republican Party fundraiser, met yesterday<\/a> with the National Republican Senatorial Committee to discuss the race.<\/p>\n * Speaking of Michigan, a new Republican poll shows Rep. Candice Miller (R) within striking distance<\/a> of Gov. Jennifer Granholm (D), trailing 46 percent to 43 percent, in a hypothetical match-up. Miller was originally encouraged to run for the Senate, but seems to be more interested in the gubernatorial race.<\/p>\n * With Rep. Jim Gibbons (R) planning to give up his seat to run for governor, his wife, former state legislator Dawn Gibbons, appears ready to run for the seat<\/a>. Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska) held a fundraiser for her last week.<\/p>\n