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 the always-fascinating Florida Senate race, a new Quinnipiac poll<\/a> shows Sen. [tag]Bill Nelson[\/tag] (D) trouncing Rep. [tag]Katherine Harris[\/tag] (R), 58% to 25%. This is slightly better for Nelson than his 56% to 27% lead in last month’s Quinnipiac poll. Harris continues to fare poorly among Florida Republicans, only 37% of whom want her to be the GOP nominee.<\/p>\n * In California’s gubernatorial primary, state Treasurer [tag]Phil Angelides[\/tag] leads state Controller [tag]Steve Westly[\/tag] in a new Public Policy Institute of California survey<\/a>, but not by much. The poll shows Angelides ahead, 35% to 32%, which is a sudden drop for Westly, who led by six points a month ago. The two will meet in a June 6 primary.<\/p>\n * In Illinois’ closely-watched 6th district House race, a Democratic poll shows Iraq war veteran [tag]Tammy Duckworth[\/tag] (D) running even<\/a> with state Sen. [tag]Peter Roskam[\/tag] (R) in the competition to see who’ll succeed retiring Rep. Henry Hyde (R). According to the poll from Bennett, Petts & Blumenthal, a Dem consulting firm, both candidates are tied at 40%.<\/p>\n * In Oregon, Gov. [tag]Ted Kulongoski[\/tag] (D) enjoys a narrow lead over Republican [tag]Ron Saxton[\/tag] in the latest Rasmussen poll<\/a>, 43% to 41%. Kulongoski’s overall standing is up a bit, with 52% of Oregon voters saying they view the governor favorably.<\/p>\n * [tag]Jerry Zandstra[\/tag] (R), who heads a conservative think tank in Michigan, seems to have fallen short<\/a> in his Senate bid, almost exactly a year after kicking off his campaign. Zandstra needed 15,000 to qualify for the state’s GOP primary ballot, and a preliminary review of his petitions shows that he came 78 signatures short. His departure would leave Oakland County Sheriff [tag]Michael Bouchard[\/tag] and the Rev. [tag]Keith Butler[\/tag] as the remaining GOP candidates to take on incumbent Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D).<\/p>\n