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
* Harris Miller, up until recently the president of the Information Technology Association of America, officially announced<\/a> yesterday that he will take on Sen. George Allen (R) in Virginia’s Senate election. Miller hinted that Allen’s presidential ambitions will be a key campaign issue: “I’m committing to serve six years in the Senate. Clearly, George Allen has other things on his mind,” Miller said. “I don’t think there are too many people in New Hampshire who can vote for him in November.”<\/p>\n * After receiving a surprisingly strong response in a Pennsylvania Republican Party caucus vote recently, former football player Lynn Swann (R) has helped push one of his gubernatorial rivals out of the race<\/a>. State Sen. Jeffrey Piccola (R), who’s been running third in state polls, ended his struggling campaign. Former Lt. Gov. William Scranton (R) remains as Swann’s only primary opponent.<\/p>\n * Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas) starts off her re-election year with an enormous lead<\/a> over Barbara Ann Radnofsky (D), ahead 64% to 25%.<\/p>\n * Speaking of Texas, now that this year’s gubernatorial campaign is a four-way race, the polls show no one getting a majority<\/a>. A new Rasmussen poll show Gov. Rick Perry (R) ahead with 40% support, followed by Carole Keeton Strayhorn (I) with 21%, Chris Bell (D) at 14%, and Kinky Friedman (I) not far behind with 12%.<\/p>\n