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
* Former Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. Bill Scranton (R) ended his gubernatorial campaign<\/a> yesterday, essentially clearing the field for former football player Lynn Swann. Technically, Swann still faces Pennsylvania Manufacturers’ Association executive James Panyard in the GOP primary, but Panyard has not generated any meaningful support to date.<\/p>\n * Attorney Mike Ciresi ended months of speculation yesterday by announcing that he will not run<\/a> for the Senate in Minnesota this year. The decision is a big boost for Hennepin County Attorney Amy Klobuchar (D), who is now the prohibitive favorite for the Dem nomination.<\/p>\n * In a bit of a surprise, James Webb, the Secretary of the Navy under Reagan, said yesterday that he will run for the Senate<\/a> this year, as a Dem. Webb is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and served in the Marines in Vietnam. He is the author of the nonfiction book “Born Fighting, How the Scots-Irish Shaped America,” as well as six novels. He’ll likely face Harris Miller in a Dem primary, the winner of which will take on Sen. George Allen (R). (A few months ago, Allen’s re-election was a foregone conclusion. Now, it has to be considered a key race to watch.)<\/p>\n * New York Republicans have been urging State Health Commissioner Antonia Novello (R) to run against Hillary Clinton this year, but Novello made her intentions clear yesterday, announcing that she will not be a candidate<\/a>. Her announcement leaves former Yonkers Mayor John Spencer as the only GOP candidate left who still wants to run.<\/p>\n * Republicans in South Dakota keep arguing that they’re anxious to take on Rep. Stephanie Herseth (D-S.D.), but reality keeps getting in the way. This week, Carol Pitts, the Republican Party’s top recruit, announced she will not run<\/a>.<\/p>\n * In Wisconsin, a new Rasmussen poll shows Gov. Jim Doyle (D) in the lead<\/a> over his most likely GOP challengers, but not by as much as he’d like. The poll shows Doyle ahead of Rep. Mark Green (R), 48% to 41%, and leading Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker (R), 47% to 40%.<\/p>\n