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 New Jersey, Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) seems to have hit his stride against state Sen. Tom Kean Jr. (R) at just the right time. A new a Monmouth University\/Gannett New Jersey poll<\/a> shows Menendez up by nine, 48% to 39%. A month ago, a Monmouth University poll showed Kean with a six-point lead.<\/p>\n * In Washington state, the Seattle Times has inexplicably endorsed<\/a> Mike McGavick (R) over Sen. Maria Cantwell (D), but it may not matter<\/a> — neither the RNC nor the NRSC plan to air ads supporting the Republican’s campaign during the last 17 days of the campaign. Apparently, the GOP establishment believes the race isn’t competitive enough, and needs to focus resources elsewhere.<\/p>\n * Speaking of Republicans cutting their losses, the Missoula Missoulian noted<\/a> that NRSC hasn’t spent any more on advertising to help beleaguered Sen. Conrad Burns (R-Mont.) since early August, and rumor has it that “national Republicans have all but given up on Sen. Conrad Burns’ re-election chances.” (via Taegan Goddard<\/a>)<\/p>\n * In Vermont, Gov. Jim Douglas (R), who co-chaired Bush’s election campaigns in Vermont in 2000 and 2004, now says he is “appalled<\/a>” at the behavior of Washington Republicans and lays some of the blame on the White House. “I’m appalled, I’m discouraged, I’m offended and, frankly, as someone who’s been in office for many years, it’s awful to see how some people who are given the public trust can breach it,” Douglas said. “It’s not exclusively a Republican problem down there, but it certainly seems that those caught up are predominantly Republicans.” Douglas, who is currently running for a third term, is probably worried about being closely associated with the GOP in a very blue state.<\/p>\n