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 Minnesota, Veterinarian and philanthropist [tag]Ford Bell[\/tag] (D) ended his Senate campaign<\/a> yesterday, clearing the way for Hennepin County Attorney [tag]Amy Klobuchar[\/tag] to win the Dem (technically, the DFL) nomination in September. Bell said he had “not a doubt” that he could have defeated Rep. [tag]Mark Kennedy[\/tag] (R) in November “but it has also become clear that our campaign will not be able to raise enough money to win the September primary.” Bell also endorsed Klobuchar, who said in a statement, “We’ve had our differences but today we are united and determined to elect a Senator who will put the people of Minnesota first.”<\/p>\n * Wisconsin Gov. [tag]Jim Doyle[\/tag] (D), whom Republicans had targeted as vulnerable this year, has built on earlier leads over Rep. [tag]Mark Green[\/tag] (R) and is now ahead by double digits. A Badger poll<\/a> released this week shows Doyle ahead, 49% to 36%.<\/p>\n * Republicans in Florida have just about made up their minds on the state’s two big races this year. According to a new SurveyUSA poll, state Attorney General [tag]Charlie Crist[\/tag] is well on his way to winning the GOP gubernatorial nomination, leading [tag]Tom Gallagher[\/tag] 61% to 23%<\/a>. In the Senate race, Rep. [tag]Katherine Harris[\/tag] is facing a series of unknown candidates, and she leads among primary voters with 51% support<\/a>. (via Taegan Goddard<\/a>)<\/p>\n * In an odd twist to an already strange race, rumor has it<\/a> that Republican state Rep. [tag]Diana Urban[\/tag] is considering her own independent U.S. Senate campaign, raising the possibility of a four-way race if Sen. [tag]Joe Lieberman[\/tag] leaves the Dems. Urban reportedly picked up some petitions yesterday.<\/p>\n