MONDAY’S CAMPAIGN ROUND-UP….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:
* Joe Biden’s mother-in-law, Bonny Jean Jacobs, died yesterday at the age of 78. Biden will be off the campaign trail for a couple of days.
* Now we know who to blame for foisting Palin on the world: Steve Schmidt.
* The director of McCain’s campaign in Michigan is not at all pleased with the senator’s announcement that he will blow off the state this year.
* USA Today has a good item on Hillary Clinton’s efforts to help the Obama/Biden ticket.
* It looks like the McCain campaign is starting to worry, at least a little, about the electoral vote in eastern Nebraska.
* Republican officials in Virginia seem to be increasingly worried about McCain’s chances.
* John McCain’s brother referred to two major areas in Northern Virginia as “communist country.” He later apologized.
* In Ohio, the latest Columbus Dispatch poll shows Obama leading McCain by seven, 49% to 42%. There are, however, some concerns about the methodology.
* In New Mexico, an Albuquerque Journal poll shows Obama leading McCain by five, 45% to 40%.
* In Minnesota, a Star Tribune poll shows Obama leading McCain by 18, 55% to 37%. There were a few questions about the methodology of this one, too.
* In Colorado, a Mason-Dixon poll shows Obama and McCain tied at 44% each.
* In Maine, Rasmussen shows Obama leading McCain by five, 51% to 46%.
* In Washington state, Rasmussen shows Obama leading McCain by 10, 53% to 43%.
* The McCain campaign is not optimistic about Liddy Dole’s re-election chances in North Carolina.
* Retiring Sen. John Warner (R) is considering endorsing the Democrat in the race to replace him, former Gov. Mark Warner (no relation).
