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
* The New York Sun reported<\/a> on rumors today that Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R) would be near the top of John McCain’s list of running mates, should he win the 2008 presidential nomination. At one recent campaign stop, McCain said of Pawlenty, “I know of no one who will make a greater contribution to the future of America than this great leader. This is the kind of leadership that I’d like to pass the torch to.”<\/p>\n * In Tennessee, outgoing Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R) may not be running for president, but he apparently has his eye on a possible gubernatorial race<\/a>. Asked whether he’d run for governor, Frist told reporters that it’s something he’d “consider for the future.” Incumbent Gov. Phil Bredesen (D) was easily re-elected this year, but will not be able to seek a third term in 2010 due to term limits.<\/p>\n * Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) said he plans to have “a conversation with the mirror<\/a>” over the holiday season before announcing a presidential bid. In talking to the AP, however, Dodd acknowledged, “If I had to make a decision in the next thirty seconds, I’d say, ‘Let’s go.”‘<\/p>\n * Outgoing Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney (R) apparently doesn’t want to talk about<\/a> his earlier support for gay rights, which is undermining his presidential efforts. At a gathering of San Diego County Republicans Monday night, Romney brushed aside a question from The Associated Press. “Thanks, I have other people to talk to right now,” he said.<\/p>\n * Oregon state senator Ben Westlund, who bolted from the GOP in February and has spent 2006 as an independent, formally joined<\/a> the Democratic Party yesterday. “During the campaign it became very clear to me that I shared many more of the Democratic Party’s values than the Republicans,” he said. Rumor has it, he’s thinking about running for higher office, including a possible challenge to U.S. Sen. Gordon Smith (R).<\/p>\n