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 will probably be the last poll before tomorrow’s special election, SurveyUSA reports<\/a> that [tag]Brian Bilbray[\/tag] (R) narrowly leads [tag]Francine Busby[\/tag] (D), 47% to 45%. The pollsters noted that Busby leads among younger voters in the otherwise-conservative 50th congressional district, but Bilbray enjoys a sizable lead among voters over 65.<\/p>\n * Speaking of California, tomorrow’s Dem gubernatorial primary is still too close to call. A SurveyUSA poll<\/a> shows [tag]Phil Angelides[\/tag] leading [tag]Steve Westly[\/tag], 41% to 37%.<\/p>\n * [tag]Deval Patrick[\/tag] surprised a few people over the weekend by beating out<\/a> his two Dem gubernatorial rivals at the Massachusetts Democratic convention. Businessman [tag]Chris Gabrieli[\/tag] garnered 15% support (just enough to qualify for the primary ballot), while state Attorney General [tag]Thomas Reilly[\/tag] came in second with 27%, and Patrick won a rather decisive victory, receiving the backing of 58% of the 4,569 delegates.<\/p>\n * Dems in Iowa will pick their gubernatorial candidate tomorrow, and a new poll<\/a> from the Des Moines Register shows Iowa Secretary of State [tag]Chet Culver[\/tag] (D) in the lead with 36% support, followed by former state economic development director [tag]Mike Blouin[\/tag] at 28%, and state Rep. [tag]Ed Fallon[\/tag] at 21%. The winner will take on Rep. Jim Nussle (R) in November.<\/p>\n