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
* Confirming a series of other polls showing a tightening race, a new SurveyUSA poll<\/a> shows Virginia’s gubernatorial campaign getting closer with each passing week. Former state Attorney General Jerry Kilgore’s (R) kead over Lt. Gov. Tim Kaine (D) is down to three points, 46% to 43%.<\/p>\n * Former Senate Dem Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) is raising eyebrows with a surprisingly busy schedule, prompting questions<\/a> about whether the recently-defeated senator is eyeing the 2008 presidential campaign. Among the signs: Daschle will be the guest speaker at the Iowa Democratic Party’s Jefferson-Jackson Dinner and Daschle has recreated his political action committee and a 527 group. Steve Hildebrand, a longtime Daschle adviser, said that the chance of Daschle running for president is “probably pretty low,” but Hildebrand would not rule it out.<\/p>\n * Facing a primary challenge from the right, Sen. Lincoln D. Chafee (R-R.I.) is calling on those with experience in similar circumstances — he’s hired the same political team<\/a> that helped Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) defeat a primary challenge from the right in Pennsylvania last year.<\/p>\n * As if it weren’t discouraging enough for Rick Santorum to see polls showing him well behind, State Treasurer Bob Casey Jr. (D) is making things worse by raising money at a torrid pace<\/a>. Casey traveled to Washington on Tuesday night for a fundraiser at the Georgetown home of Democratic financiers Smith and Elizabeth Bagley. Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) and his wife, Teresa Heinz Kerry, also are hosting a fundraiser for Casey on Saturday in Pittsburgh. In addition, Casey recently raised an estimated $500,000 at a private Philadelphia luncheon featuring Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.).<\/p>\n