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
* Rep. Bob Ney (R-Ohio) won’t let a little thing like a criminal indictment, if there is one, stop him from running for re-election. In an interview with The Hill, Ney said<\/a>, “I’m running — if I’m indicted, I’m running.” Ney made the remarks in response to comments made by Ohio Republican Chairman Bob Bennett, who told Fox News, “If Bob Ney is indicted, that’s a very serious charge. We would ask him to step down on that basis…that’s where the line is drawn.”<\/p>\n * In Montana, State Auditor John Morrison (D) released a poll conducted on his behalf that shows him with a comfortable lead<\/a> over state Senate President Jon Tester (D) in Montana’s Dem Senate primary. The poll, taken by the Global Strategy Group, shows Morrison up, 39% to 20%, though 37% remain undecided. The winner of the primary will take on embattled Sen. Conrad Burns (R) in November.<\/p>\n * A new Rasmussen poll<\/a> shows Arkansas Attorney General Mike Beebe (D) with a modest lead over former Rep. Asa Hutchinson (R) in the Arkansas’ gubernatorial election. In November, a University of Arkansas poll showed Beebe up 47% to 40%<\/a>; three months later, Rasmussen shows largely the same thing: Beebe 46%, Hutchinson 40%.<\/p>\n * Rep. Ed Case (D-Hawaii) surprised the party’s establishment yesterday by announcing he will launch a primary campaign<\/a> against incumbent Sen. Daniel Akaka (D). Case said he respects and admires Akaka but feels the party needs to make the transition to a new generation of leadership. Case also suggested Akaka, who is 81, could die in office, leaving Hawaii’s Republican governor a chance to replace him. Dem leaders in Hawaii and DC vowed to rally behind Akaka.<\/p>\n * Hennepin County Attorney and U.S. Senate candidate Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) picked up a key endorsement<\/a> this week from Rep. James Oberstar (D). Klobuchar faces child safety advocate Patty Wetterling and philanthropist Ford Bell in a Dem primary, though I’ve heard rumors that Klobuchar<\/strike> Wetterling may drop out of the race soon. (Update: from comments, Wetterling withdrew<\/a> from the race today.)<\/p>\n