WEDNESDAY’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.
* The recount begins today in Minnesota’s closely watched Senate race between Norm Coleman and Al Franken. Coleman goes into the process with a 0.008% lead. With nearly 3 million votes to review, the process is expected to take several weeks.
* In Georgia, home to the other unresolved Senate race, incumbent Saxby Chambliss is running more attacks ads, this time going after Barack Obama’s tax plan. As Eric Kleefeld noted, “To the best of our knowledge, this is the first attack ad out there that has gone after Barack Obama since he won the election (not counting Fox News promos).” The runoff election is on Dec. 2.
* Speaking of the Georgia race, Bill Clinton will be in Georgia campaigning for Jim Martin today.
* Al Gore will be in Georgia in support of Martin on Sunday.
* Michael Steele, hoping to become the next chairman of the Republican National Committee, lashed out yesterday at the party’s “country club” mentality.
* Hoping to end speculation about his future, John McCain announced yesterday that he will seek re-election in 2010. If Gov. Janet Napolitano (D) takes him on, as has been rumored, it will certainly be the toughest race McCain has faced in Arizona.
* And Sarah Palin, in the latest sign of her efforts to secure party support for a future campaign, has already agreed to be a featured guest at the 2009 Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC). John McCain will reportedly not be invited to the event.
