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 what the Providence Journal is describing<\/a> as “one of the most spectacular flame-outs in Rhode Island’s long and florid political history,” Democratic Secretary of State [tag]Matt Brown[\/tag] ended Senate campaign yesterday and endorsed former Attorney General [tag]Sheldon Whitehouse[\/tag] (D). Brown ran into fundraising trouble, and couldn’t shake questions about dubious contributions<\/a> from several state parties outside Rhode Island. Whitehouse will take on Sen. [tag]Linc Chafee[\/tag] (R), unless Cranston Mayor [tag]Stephen Laffey[\/tag] wins an upset in the GOP primary.<\/p>\n * The see-saw battle in New Jersey’s Senate race titled back towards Dems today, as a new Quinnipiac poll<\/a> shows Sen. [tag]Bob Menendez[\/tag] (D) leading state Sen. [tag]Tom Kean[\/tag], Jr. (R), 40% to 34%. Menendez is reportedly benefiting from a strong anti-Bush attitude throughout New Jersey.<\/p>\n * California’s Democratic gubernatorial primary is still very close, but State Comptroller Steve Westly has surged ahead of State Treasurer Phil Angelides. The latest Public Policy Institute of California poll<\/a> shows Westly ahead, 26% to 20%, though a clear majority of state Dems remain undecided (via Taegan Goddard<\/a>).<\/p>\n * Pennsylvania Treasurer Bob Casey (D) still enjoys a sizable lead over Rick Santorum (R) in the latest Muhlenberg College poll<\/a>, but not as sizable as it was. Whereas Casey had a 12-point lead last month, the poll shows the margin shrinking a bit, with Casey now ahead, 46% to 38%.<\/p>\n