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
* Assuming he can overcome a primary fight, Rep. Ted Strickland (D) looks well positioned at this point for Ohio’s gubernatorial election in November. According to a new Rasmussen poll<\/a>, Strickland leads Ohio Secretary of State Ken Blackwell 44% to 40%, State Attorney General Jim Petro 43% to 38%; and State Auditor Betty Montgomery 49% to 33%.<\/p>\n * The Sherrod Brown-Paul Hackett primary doesn’t seem to be helping Dems’ chances in Ohio’s upcoming Senate race. The latest Rasmussen poll<\/a> shows incumbent Sen. Mike DeWine (R) leading Hackett 43% to 39%, and Brown 45% to 40%.<\/p>\n * Speaking of Dem primaries, Nassau County Executive Thomas Suozzi (D) said yesterday that he’ll announce within “a week or so<\/a>” whether to take on state Attorney General Eliot Spitzer in a Democratic gubernatorial primary.<\/p>\n * In Georgia, Gov. Sonny Perdue (R) looks very strong<\/a> in advance of November’s gubernatorial race and enjoys comfortable leads over his most likely Dem challengers. Purdue is ahead of Georgia Secretary of State Cathy Cox (D) 53% to 37%, and leads Lt. Gov. Mark Taylor (D) 56% to 31%.<\/p>\n * Vermont Rep. Bernie Sanders (I) continues to dominate in the race to succeed retiring Sen. Jim Jeffords (I). According to a new Rasmussen poll<\/a>, Sanders leads his most likely Republican challenger, businessman Richard Tarrant (R), 70% to 25%.<\/p>\n