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 less than two weeks before the election, a new poll<\/a> from SurveyUSA shows Sen. Jon Corzine (D-N.J.) building slightly on his lead, topping Doug Forrester (R), 50% to 41%.<\/p>\n * In Michigan, the state GOP’s lack of confidence in the Rev. Keith Butler’s (R) ability to take on Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D) is well founded. A poll from Strategic Vision, a Republican pollster, shows Butler trailing, 47% to 28%<\/a>.<\/p>\n * Despite taking a series of steps to run for the Senate, Vermont Lt. Gov. Brian Dubie (R) announced this morning that he will skip the race<\/a> and seek re-election, marking the latest GOP recruiting target to ignore party pressure. Without Dubie, the race will likely pit Rep. Bernie Sanders (I) against millionaire businessman Richard Tarrant (R).<\/p>\n * In Kentucky, Rep. Anne Northup (R), who represents the state’s most competitive district, barely eked out a victory last year, defeating attorney Jack Conway (D) by only a few thousand votes. Next year, Northup may have a rematch. Conway, widely considered a rising star by Kentucky Dems, is in DC this week meeting the top party officials about his 2006 plans<\/a>. Conway is reportedly deciding between running against Northup again or running for statewide office in 2007.<\/p>\n * Jack Carter, the former president’s oldest son, is gearing up<\/a> to take on Sen. John Ensign (R) next year. Carter has told reporters recently that he’s on a “listening tour,” but Dan Hinkley, the Nevada Democratic Party secretary, said Carter told him “he is pretty sure he is doing it, and that he has moved past the [thinking] stage.”<\/p>\n