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
* Two top-tier Republican presidential candidates are dealing with far-right ads against them in early primary states. John McCain is the subject of a new Club for Growth ad<\/a>, which is running in New Hampshire, complaining about McCain’s hesitancy to repeal the estate tax. Bill Frist, meanwhile, is dealing with a week-long ad buy in Iowa<\/a> from the Center for Reclaiming America, a radical religious right group, which targets Frist for his support for federally-funded stem-cell research.<\/p>\n * Speaking of ads, Virginia’s Republican gubernatorial candidate Jerry Kilgore hits the airwaves this week with his first major ad buy<\/a> of the campaign. Kilgore advisers said none of the ads is negative or critical of Democratic candidate Tim Kaine — those will come later.<\/p>\n * And speaking of Virginia’s gubernatorial race, Tim Kaine went out of his way — at one point, nearly jogging — to appear alongside<\/a> popular Gov. Mark Warner (D) during Labor Day festivities yesterday.<\/p>\n * In what will likely turn out to be among the most important races in the country next year, Missouri’s Senate race is already poised for a cliffhanger. A new Rasmussen poll<\/a> shows incumbent Sen. Jim Talent (R) tied with Missouri State Auditor Claire McCaskill (D), 46% to 46%.<\/p>\n * Confirming months of rumors, Oregon State Sen. Vicki Walker (D) announced yesterday<\/a> that she will challenge Gov. Ted Kulongoski in a Dem gubernatorial primary next year.<\/p>\n