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.
* Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa (D) won a second four-year term yesterday.
* Cook County Commissioner Mike Quigley won the Democratic primary in Illinois’ 5th yesterday, as part of the special election to fill the seat left vacant by Rahm Emanuel. Quigley is considered the overwhelming favorite in the special general election, scheduled for April 7. Netroots favorite Tom Geoghegan came in a disappointing seventh in the multi-candidate primary.
* Americans United for Change continues to exploit Rush Limbaugh in its criticism of congressional Republicans.
* New York Gov. David Paterson (D) has seen his support plummet of late, and his 26% approval rating is now lower than Eliot Spitzer’s was in the midst of his sex scandal.
* Speaking of struggling Democratic governors, New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine (D) is still trailing in his re-election campaign. A Fairleigh Dickinson University poll released this morning shows the governor trailing former U.S. Attorney Chris Christie, the leading Republican candidate, 41% to 32%.
* A day after Club for Growth President Pat Toomey expressed interest in running against Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) in a Republican primary, Toomey’s group went after Specter, calling him “Comrade of the Month” for supporting the economic stimulus package.
* Rep. Gresham Barrett (R-S.C.) is giving up his seat to run for governor in South Carolina next year.
* Former Rep. Jon Porter (R) was considered a credible challenger for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D) next year, but Porter bowed out of consideration yesterday.
* Is former Rep. and infomercial salesman J.C. Watts (R) going to run for governor in Oklahoma? Maybe.
