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
* In Arkansas, State Attorney General Mike Beebe’s (D) gubernatorial campaign got a bit of a boost yesterday when former Social Security Administration chief Bill Halter (D) announced that he is dropping out<\/a> of the race. Halter will instead run for lieutenant governor. Recent polls<\/a> have so far shown Beebe with a solid lead over former Rep. Asa Hutchinson (R) in the general election.<\/p>\n * Former state police leader and state Rep. Reed Hillman’s (R) first day as Lt. Gov. Kerry Healey’s (R) gubernatorial running mate was a little rocky. Hillman formally apologized<\/a> at a press conference for his past decisions that may have partially discriminated against women.<\/p>\n * In the race to succeed retiring Rep. Bill Thomas (R-Calif.), state Sen. Roy Ashburn (R) made the GOP establishment very happy by announcing that he will not run<\/a> for the open House seat, clearing the field for Assembly Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R). Ashburn, who endorsed McCarthy, said he hopes his move will help avoid a bruising, costly Republican primary.<\/p>\n * Speaking of California, Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D) recently conducted another round of polling statewide<\/a> to gauge her chances for future campaigns, though Sanchez staffers said it was not for any campaign in the immediate future. Sanchez insists she will run for re-election the House again this year, but may run for either governor or U.S. senator in 2010. “She just wants to make sure her options are open for the federal or state level,” spokeswoman Carrie Brooks confirmed this week.<\/p>\n