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
* USA Today\/Gallup released polling data<\/a> on six of the most closely watched Senate races in the country today — and nearly all offer encouraging news for Dems. In Maryland, Rep. Ben Cardin (D) leads Lt. Gov. Michael Steele (R) 54% to 39%; in Missouri, Claire McCaskill (D) leads Sen. Jim Talent (R) 48% to 45%; in Virginia, Sen. George Allen (R) leads Jim Webb (D) 48% to 45%; in New Jersey, Sen. Bob Menendez (D) leads Tom Kean, Jr. (R) 46% to 43%; in Rhode Island, Sheldon Whitehouse (D) leads Sen. Lincoln Chafee (R) 50% to 39%; and in Tennessee, Rep. Harold Ford, Jr. (D) leads Bob Corker, (R) 50% to 45%<\/p>\n * In Maryland, USA Today\/Gallup also found that Baltimore Mayor Martin O\u2019Malley (D) has opened up a 12-point lead<\/a> over Gov. Robert Ehrlich (R) 53% to 41%. Speaking of the race, Ehrlich raised eyebrows yesterday by questioning the qualifications<\/a> of his own pick for lieutenant governor, saying he may not have chosen Kristen Cox as his running mate if she were not blind.<\/p>\n * In Michigan, Dems are encouraged by the latest EPIC-MRA polls<\/a>, which show Dems ahead in both of the state’s major statewide races. In the gubernatorial race, Gov. Jennifer Granholm (D) now leads Amway heir Dick DeVos (R), 46% to 40%. In the Senate race, incumbent Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D) has expanded on her earlier leads and is now ahead of Mike Bouchard (R), 48% to 35%.<\/p>\n