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
* With just two months to go before Virginia voters choose their next governor, former state Attorney General Jerry Kilgore (R) continues to hold a narrow lead over Lt. Gov. Tim Kaine (D), 45% to 41%<\/a>. Kaine is well within striking distance, but he’s having trouble capitalizing on Gov. Mark Warner’s (D) popularity. An impressive 76% of Virginians approve of the job Warner is doing.<\/p>\n * Dems in New York City will go to the polls tomorrow to pick the party’s candidate to challenge Mayor Michael Bloomberg (R) in the fall. A WNBC-Marist College poll<\/a> shows former Bronx borough president Fernando Ferrer, the longtime front-runner, ahead with 34%, while up-and-comer Rep. Anthony Weiner has solidified his hold on second place with 27%. A new Quinnipiac poll<\/a> out this morning shows the race even closer, with Ferrer at 32% and Weiner at 25%. If no candidate gets 40%, as now seems likely, there will be a run-off.<\/p>\n * In New Jersey, Sen. Jon Corzine (D) has widened his lead<\/a> over Doug Forrester in the state gubernatorial race. A new Star-Ledger\/Eagleton-Rutgers poll shows Corzine with 48% and Forrester at 28% among all voters. Among likely voters, the news is only slightly better for the Republican — Corzine 49%, Forrester 31%.<\/p>\n * If North Dakota Gov. John Hoeven (R) enters the Senate race next year as the GOP establishment hopes, he’ll likely be a very competitive candidate. A new poll shows Hoevan leading incumbent Sen. Kent Conrad (D), 35% to 27%<\/a>. A whopping 27% remain undecided.<\/p>\n