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
* Yesterday was Primary Day in Kentucky, Oregon, and Pennsylvania. Among the interesting results: Gov. [tag]Ted Kulongoski[\/tag] (D) and [tag]Ron Saxton[\/tag] (R) won Oregon’s gubernatorial primaries<\/a>; LEO newspaper founder [tag]John Yarmuth[\/tag] (D) cruised to an easy primary victory<\/a> in Kentucky’s 3rd and will take on perennial target Rep. [tag]Anne Northup[\/tag] (R); and Iraq war veteran [tag]Patrick Murphy[\/tag] (D) won<\/a> the right to take on Rep. [tag]Mike Fitzpatrick[\/tag] (R).<\/p>\n * Also yesterday in Pennsylvania, Rep. [tag]Don Sherwood[\/tag] (R), who represents a very conservative “red” district, survived a primary challenge<\/a> from a “virtual unknown with a Democratic voting history.” Sherwood beat [tag]Kathy Scott[\/tag], 56% to 44%, despite the fact that Scott spent less than $5,000 on the race through April. The poor showing may have something to do with Sherwood’s messy extramartial affair, which led to accusations from his mistress that he also assaulted her. Sherwood will face Navy veteran [tag]Chris Carney[\/tag] (D) in November.<\/p>\n * In a surprise move that might further shake up Connecticut’s Dem Senate primary, the [tag]National Organization for Women[\/tag] bucked Sen. [tag]Joe Lieberman[\/tag] (D) and endorsed [tag]Ned Lamont[\/tag]<\/a> (D). NOW’s press release on the endorsement alluded to Lieberman’s vote allowing [tag]Samuel Alito[\/tag]’s Supreme Court nomination to go to the Senate floor earlier this year.<\/p>\n * In Washington state, Sen. [tag]Maria Cantwell[\/tag] (D)’s lead over businessman [tag]Mike McGavick[\/tag] (R) seems to be slipping, at least according to the latest Rasmussen poll<\/a>. Whereas Cantwell led McGavick 48% to 40% a month ago, Rasmussen now says she’s ahead, 46% to 41%. Cantwell seems to be slipping in large part because of problems with her base — she has voiced mild support for the war in Iraq and voted for the Alito nomination.<\/p>\n