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
* New York businessman Thomas Golisano, who’s run unsuccessfully for governor three times as an independent, will switch his party affiliation and become a Republican<\/a> today on route to a fourth attempt. Golisano has received support from many party leaders, including John McCain.<\/p>\n * Child safety advocate Patty Wetterling will officially announce<\/a> she is running for Minnesota’s open U.S. Senate seat on Sunday in St. Cloud. Wetterling, who’s been running for the seat for a few months, will face at least two Dem primary challengers, Hennepin County Attorney Amy Klobuchar and philanthropist Ford Bell.<\/p>\n * Speaking of the Minnesota Senate race, attorney Mike Ciresi (D), who ran unsuccessfully five years ago, is still eyeing the race<\/a>. As soon as Sen. Mark Dayton (D-Minn.) announced in February that he would retire after one term, Ciresi expressed interest. Eight months later, he’s still weighing his options.<\/p>\n * Virginia Lt. Gov. Tim Kaine (D) and former state Attorney General Jerry Kilgore (R) will face off on Sunday for the only statewide televised debate of Virginia’s gubernatorial campaign. There are, however, two lingering questions about the event. One, Kaine wants to be able to use footage of the debate in campaign commercials; Kilgore, less skilled in debates, refuses to go along. Two, State Rep. H. Russell Potts Jr., a Republican running as an independent, has been excluded from the debate and is considering an 11th-hour federal lawsuit<\/a> to force his way onto the stage.<\/p>\n * To the surprise of Maine’s political establishment, Republican Pete Cianchette abruptly ended<\/a> his gubernatorial campaign this week, just three weeks after entering the race. Cianchette, the GOP’s 2002 nominee, said he wanted more time with his family. Cianchette was perceived as the front-runner in the three-man GOP field, which still includes state Sen. Peter Mills and concession-stand operator Stephen Stimpson.<\/p>\n * Speaking of relatively abrupt exits, former Tallahassee mayor Scott Maddox (D), burdened by bad publicity and tepid fundraising, is considering<\/a> leaving Florida’s gubernatorial race, possibly as early as today.<\/p>\n