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
* We’ve long known that the Florida Republican establishment is less-than thrilled with Rep. [tag]Katherine Harris[\/tag]’ (R) Senate campaign, but it’s apparently worse than we knew<\/a>. About three months ago, the Florida Republican Party officially told Harris, in writing, that the party wouldn’t support her campaign. Contacted yesterday, those same GOP officials said nothing has changed.<\/p>\n * In Missouri, a new Rasmussen poll<\/a> shows state Auditor [tag]Claire McCaskill[\/tag] (D) moving ahead of incumbent Sen. [tag]Jim Talent[\/tag] (R), 45% to 42%. In late June, Rasmussen showed the two tied at 42%.<\/p>\n * Florida’s gubernatorial contest is looking considerably more competitive than it was a couple of weeks ago. A new Rasmussen poll<\/a> shows Republican Attorney General [tag]Charlie Crist[\/tag], who was leading Rep. [tag]Jim Davis[\/tag] (D) by double digits a month ago, now up by five, 47% to 42%. Crist’s lead over state Sen. [tag]Rod Smith[\/tag] (D) is still big, with Crist leading 48% to 35%.<\/p>\n * Kansas Gov. [tag]Kathleen Sebelius[\/tag] (D) appears to be in a very good position for re-election, according to a new Rasmussen poll<\/a>. Sebelius now leads former state House Speaker [tag]Robin Jennison[\/tag], 52% to 31%, and state Sen. [tag]Jim Barnett[\/tag], 51% to 34%. Both leads are slightly larger now than they were a month ago.<\/p>\n