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
* It was close, but Democratic challenger Larry Kissell conceded<\/a> the undecided House race in North Carolina’s 8th district yesterday, giving Rep. Robin Hayes (R) another term. Out of the 121,523 votes cast, Hayes won by 329 votes. Kissell, however, immediately announced he’s gearing up for a rematch. “The fight for the future of this district is too important to postpone another day,” he said in a statement. “That’s why I’m running for Congress in 2008 starting right now.”<\/p>\n * Strategist James Carville, speaking at the American Democracy Conference in DC, said, in a rather matter-of-fact fashion, that Al Gore will be a presidential candidate<\/a> in 2008. Carville told the audience, “We’re going to have five larger-than-life candidates running for President. McCain, Giuliani, Hillary Clinton, Obama and Al Gore. And you want to make it interesting, you might have Newt Gingrich in it.”<\/p>\n * Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack (D) will officially kick off<\/a> his presidential campaign today at an event in Mount Pleasant, Iowa. According to excerpted portions of his speech, Vilsack will tell supporters, “I am running for president to replace the anxiety of today with the hope of tomorrow and to guarantee every American their birthright: opportunity.”<\/p>\n * Speaking of Iowa, state party chairman Rob Tully said on Fox News last night that Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) has not yet<\/a> laid the groundwork for a presidential campaign in the first caucus state. “She’s been quiet and, you know, there’s a question that we all hear is that she may not get in this if Barack Obama gets in. I have never seen a reaction other than Bill Clinton in terms of the excitement that people have to meet Barack Obama. Some people just wanted to touch him.” (For the record, I don’t believe Clinton is afraid of any potential ’08 rival.)<\/p>\n