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
*Former Massachusetts Gov. [tag]Bill Weld[\/tag] (R), struggling in his New York gubernatorial bid, is under pressure to drop out<\/a> of the race, and will reportedly end his campaign this afternoon. “His heart is telling him to stay in and fight, but his head is taking the more rational kind of approach,” said a Weld adviser, speaking on the condition of anonymity. “So he is going to speak to his wife and take the evening to think about it.” State GOP boss Steve Minarik, a one-time Weld backer, has called on Weld to throw his support to [tag]John Faso[\/tag], the big winner at last week’s Republican convention.<\/p>\n * In Tennessee’s Republican Senate primary, former Chattanooga Mayor [tag]Bob Corker[\/tag] seems to have benefited greatly from a major recent ad buy. A new poll conducted by Public Opinion Strategies, a Republican firm, shows Corker surging ahead<\/a> of the GOP field with 43% support, followed by former Rep. [tag]Van Hilleary[\/tag] with 23%, and former Rep. [tag]Ed Bryant[\/tag] with 17%. The winner of the Aug. 3 primary will face Rep. [tag]Harold Ford[\/tag] Jr. (D) in November.<\/p>\n * Rep. [tag]Jim Davis[\/tag]’ (D) gubernatorial campaign in Florida got a boost<\/a> this week when [tag]Bob Graham[\/tag], the former Democratic governor and senator, announced that he is not only endorsing Davis, but will also be the chairman of his campaign. Davis faces state Sen. [tag]Rod Smith[\/tag] in a Dem primary on Sept. 5.<\/p>\n * Is Idaho’s 1st congressional district going to be competitive in November? Jay Stevens makes a compelling case<\/a> that the GOP nominee, [tag]Bill Sali[\/tag], has burnt a lot of bridges on the right — state House Speaker [tag]Bruce Newcomb[\/tag] (R) said of Sali, “That idiot is just an absolute idiot” — while businessman [tag]Larry Grant[\/tag], the Dem nominee, might be the ideal candidate to pull an upset.<\/p>\n