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 the race Republicans consider their best chance to pick up a Senate seat this year, New Jersey remains close, but several new polls this week show Sen. Bob Menendez (D) clinging to his lead over state Sen. Tom Kean Jr. (R). A new Rutgers-Eagleton poll<\/a>, for example, shows the incumbent, appointed after Jon Corzine (D) was elected governor last year, ahead 46% to 42%. A new Fairleigh Dickinson poll<\/a>, meanwhile, shows Menendez up by 10, 48% to 38%.<\/p>\n * In Montana, a new Rasmussen poll<\/a> shows state Senate President Jon Tester (D) continuing to lead Sen. Conrad Burns (R) in one of the Dems’ key pick-up opportunities, 50% to 46%. The margin is identical to the Rasmussen poll from last week, which showed Tester up 51% to 47%.<\/p>\n * Though Arizona’s Senate race had been written off as over, there’s a new-found belief that Dems have a shot in this one. A new poll<\/a> published by the Arizona Star shows Sen. Jon Kyl (R) leading challenger Jim Pederson (D) by just four points, 45.8% to 41.3%. The poll comes just as the DSCC announced that it’s investing in some 11th-hour advertising<\/a> on Pederson’s behalf.<\/p>\n * Idaho continues to look increasingly encouraging for Dems in two major races, according to a new poll<\/a> from the Idaho Business Review. In the open race in Idaho’s 1st congressional district, state Rep. Bill Sali (R) has seen his lead disappear and now trails businessman Larry Grant (D), 38% to 34%. Just as surprising, newspaper owner Jerry Brady (D) now leads Rep. Butch Otter (R) in Idaho’s gubernatorial race, 41% to 36%.<\/p>\n