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
* The circus better known as Connecticut’s U.S. Senate race took another bizarre twist yesterday when likely Republican nominee [tag]Alan Schlesinger[\/tag] came under pressure from his party to quit the race<\/a>. Schlesinger is under fire for allegedly repeatedly visiting casinos and gambling under an assumed name. Schlesinger is vowing<\/a> to stay in the race.<\/p>\n * Illinois Governor [tag]Rod Blagojevich[\/tag] (D) was actually trailing in some statewide polls a couple of months ago, but after a recent ad blitz, the incumbent seems to have regained his footing. A new Rasmussen poll<\/a> shows Blagojevich leading state Treasurer [tag]Judy Baar Topinka[\/tag] (R), 45% to 34%. It is easily Blagojevich’s biggest lead in any poll this year.<\/p>\n * In California, a new Rasmussen poll<\/a>, the first since the Dem primary, shows the state’s gubernatorial race neck-in-neck, with the challenger inching ahead of the incumbent for the first time in a while. According to Rasmussen, [tag]Phil Angelides[\/tag] (D) now leads [tag]Arnold Schwarzenegger[\/tag] (R), 46% to 44%.<\/p>\n * Speaking of California, the same Rasmussen poll<\/a> shows Sen. [tag]Dianne Feinstein[\/tag] (D) leaving her Republican rival, [tag]Dick Mountjoy[\/tag], in the dust. The incumbent is now ahead, 60% to 33%.<\/p>\n