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
* Virginia Gov. Mark Warner (D) made his initial foray into New Hampshire over the weekend and it reportedly went pretty well<\/a>. U.S. News ran an item<\/a> this week calling him “white-hot on the Democratic presidential circuit,” and quoting Republican Rep. Tom Davis describing Warner as “presidential material.”<\/p>\n * Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.) finally has a Republican opponent for next year’s re-election campaign — in fact, he has two<\/a>. Kevin Scott, a town official in Wakefield, and Kenneth Chase appear ready to face off in a Republican primary next year, though no one gives them much of a shot. To qualify for the primary, each must gather 10,000 certified signatures by May.<\/p>\n * In Iowa, the gubernatorial campaign of Shenandoah Mayor Gregg Connell (D) came to an abrupt end<\/a> just 10 days after it began. Connell was involved in a fatal auto accident last week in which he was ticketed for running a stop sign. “Although my desire and passion to lead Iowa remain strong, I must take a break from the demanding campaign schedule to spend time with my family and recover from the effects of this tragic accident,” according to a written statement issued by Connell and his family.<\/p>\n * While there’s still some discussion in Dem circles about who should run for governor in California next year, Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D-Calif.) is really<\/i> thinking ahead. According to a report<\/a> in the Orange County Register, Sanchez has established a political action committee to prepare her for the state’s 2010 gubernatorial campaign. (via Taegan Goddard<\/a>)<\/p>\n