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. [tag]Katherine Harris[\/tag] (R-Fla.) received some mildly encouraging news yesterday when [tag]Tom Rooney[\/tag], nephew of Pittsburgh Steelers owner Dan Rooney, announced he will not take on<\/a> Harris in a Senate primary. Rooney said he was unconcerned about Harris’ $10 million commitment to the race, but conceded he lacked the time to mount a serious challenge and wasn’t interested “playing spoiler for somebody or just running to lose.”<\/p>\n * In a key special election in California’s 50th congressional district, [tag]Francine Busby[\/tag] (D) appears well positioned to fill the seat left vacant by Duke Cunningham’s (R) departure. In a new SurveyUSA poll<\/a>, Busby (D) leads the pack with 45%, well ahead of her GOP challengers including Eric Roach (14%), Howard Kaloogian (12%) and Brian Bilbray (10%). The special election is April 11. If no candidate gets 50%, there will be a run-off. If Busby does get a majority, she’ll win the seat outright until November.<\/p>\n * In Nebraska, former Ameritrade executive [tag]Pete Ricketts[\/tag] (R), running in a primary to challenge Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) in November, has now spent $2.5 million of his own money<\/a> on the race — so far. He has shattered personal campaign funding records in Nebraska and may end up paying about $13 a vote<\/a>.<\/p>\n * Former FBI whistle-blower [tag]Coleen Rowley[\/tag] (D) caught a break in her congressional campaign yesterday when State Sen. [tag]Sharon Marko[\/tag] (D) dropped out of the race<\/a>. Marko’s announcement leaves Rowley as the overwhelming favorite to get the Dem nomination to take on Rep. [tag]John Kline[\/tag] (R) in November.<\/p>\n * In Illinois, Democratic state Sen. James Meeks (D) has announced that he’s collecting petition signatures to run for governor as an independent<\/a>. As Alec Oveis noted<\/a>, “Meeks hardly has a chance at winning, but this could significantly hurt [Gov. [tag]Rod Blagojevich[\/tag]’s (D)] draw in the inner-city Chicago and improve [tag]Judy Baar Topinka[\/tag]’s chances at winning.”<\/p>\n