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
* A new poll of voters in Tom DeLay’s district shows faltering support<\/a> for the flailing House Majority Leader. A poll conducted by SurveyUSA for a local television station showed 51% disapprove of the way DeLay is handling his job as a congressman. What’s more 39% said he should resign his leadership post, while another 36% said he should resign from Congress altogether (that’s a combined 75% of DeLay’s constituents who believe he should resign from something<\/i>). In response to the poll, DeLay spokesperson Shannon Flaherty said, “The people of his district know that Congressman DeLay is guided by principles, not by polls.” Keep telling yourself that, Shannon.<\/p>\n * The ongoing fight over the Washington gubernatorial race took another turn<\/a> yesterday when a state judge said he would consider statistical analysis showing how many illegal votes each candidate likely got in the governor’s race. Republicans welcomed the ruling, because without it, they couldn’t have gone to trial. The trial challenging the election of Gov. Christine Gregoire (D) is set for May 23.<\/p>\n * Despite rumors indicating interest in the race, Rep. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) said this week that he will not<\/a> take on Gov. Kathleen Sebelius (D) next year and will instead seek re-election to the House. With Moran out of the picture, House Speaker Doug Mays said yesterday he might run<\/a>. Other GOP candidates include state Treasurer Lynn Jenkins, Attorney General Phil Kline, Rep. Jim Ryun, and Secretary of State Ron Thornburgh. (Kansas’ Republican Party is as divided as any in the nation between moderates and far-right activists. A primary fight could — and almost certainly will — get ugly and benefit Sebelius.)<\/p>\n * The seven Republican candidates for governor in New Jersey got together for a “unity meeting” before their latest debate — and proceeded to lambaste each other throughout the debate anyway. At one point, Bogota Mayor Steve Lonegan, who’s trailing badly in the polls, described the two leading GOP candidates (businessman Doug Forrester and former Jersey City mayor Bret Schundler) as “big losers<\/a>.”<\/p>\n * With all the subtlety of a sledgehammer, Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.) kicked off a multi-day swing through New Hampshire yesterday, appearing<\/a> at a gathering of a major in-state GOP activist. Hagel will take his message to three college campuses<\/a> today as part of a three-day tour of the state.<\/p>\n * Speaking of presidential aspirants in the Granite State, Sen. George Allen (R-Va.) is raising money for his re-election campaign by hosting two fundraisers<\/a> in New Hampshire.<\/p>\n * With Rep. Tom Osborne (R-Neb.) giving up his seat to run for governor, Nebraska Republicans are scrambling for positioning in the race to replace him in Congress. John Hanson, Osborne’s director of agriculture policy, has expressed interest<\/a>, but so has a slew of others, including state Sen. Adrian Smith, Grand Island Mayor Jay Vavricek, state Treasurer Ron Ross, Nebraska Public Service Commission Chairman Jerry Vap, and insurance executive Jim Christensen.<\/p>\n