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
* A new Rasmussen poll<\/a> in Rhode Island offers discouraging news for Sen. [tag]Lincoln Chafee[\/tag], “whose support has gone from bad to worse,” highlighting why this is a key Dem pick-up opportunity. Chafee now trails former Rhode Island Attorney General [tag]Sheldon Whitehouse[\/tag] (D), 46% to 41%. That’s a seven-point swing since early June, when Chafee led Sheldon, 44% to 42%. For what it’s worth, Whitehouse leads Chafee’s primary opponent, Cranston Mayor [tag]Steve Laffey[\/tag], by an even bigger margin, 57% to 29%.<\/p>\n * In Michigan, Gov. [tag]Jennifer Granholm[\/tag] (D) continues to be the most vulnerable incumbent Dem governor. The latest Detroit Free Press poll<\/a> shows Granholm trialing Amway heir [tag]Dick Devos[\/tag] (R), 47% to 42%.<\/p>\n * Speaking of Michigan, voters seem to be blaming Granholm for the state’s struggling economy, but not Sen. [tag]Debbie Stabenow[\/tag] (D). The same Free Press poll<\/a> shows Stabenow leading Oakland County Sheriff [tag]Mike Bouchard[\/tag] (R), 49% to 29%, and minister [tag]Keith Butler[\/tag] (R), 50% to 26%.<\/p>\n * Rep [tag]Ernest Istook[\/tag] (R) enjoys a comfortable lead in Oklahoma’s Republican gubernatorial primary, but looking ahead, he fares poorly against incumbent Gov. [tag]Brad Henry[\/tag] (D). According to the latest Sooner Poll<\/a>, Henry leads Istook in a general election match-up, 57%to 29%.<\/p>\n