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 from Strategic Vision, a Republican firm, shows Rick Santorum trailing Pennsylvania Treasurer Bob Casey (D) by an even wider margin than before<\/a>. In its latest survey, taken after Santorum recommended penalties for people stuck in New Orleans after Katrina hit, Casey has opened an 14-point lead over Santorum, 52% to 38%. A month ago, the same pollster showed Casey with an 11-point lead.<\/p>\n * Sen. Trent Lot (R-Miss.), for months, has avoided saying specifically whether he’d run for re-election in 2006 or not. Speculation is about to get worse. Lott, who’s Pascagoula home was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina, told Roll Call<\/a> this week that the effect of the storm is “going to make the whole thing difficult because I want to help, but I have got to go through the whole family situation.” He added, “On a personal basis, it is probably time for me to go. On a constituent and professional basis, maybe I shouldn’t. I don’t know.” <\/p>\n * In a setback for the DCCC, Virginia “Ginny” Schrader, who gave Rep. Michael Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.) a pretty tough race in Pennsylvania’s 8th Congressional District last year, announced this week that she will not seek a rematch<\/a>. Dems, however, continue to see this race as a potential pick-up opportunity, in large part because Kerry beat Bush in the district. With Schrader out, attention now turns to Iraq War veteran Patrick Murphy, local county commissioner Andrew Warren, and veteran Paul Lang.<\/p>\n * William Weld has already begun campaigning in next year’s gubernatorial race in New York, but he may soon have a primary challenger pushing him from the right<\/a>. John Faso, the Republican who came very close to winning the state comptroller’s race in 2002, said this week he is “actively exploring” a run for governor next year and is talking to potential financial backers. <\/p>\n