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.
* Pat Toomey made it official this morning in Pennsylvania, kicking off his Senate primary challenge to Arlen Specter.
* On a related note, Toomey’s announcement comes the day after National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman John Cornyn of Texas endorsed Specter. “A vote for Arlen Specter is a vote for denying Harry Reid and the Democrats a filibuster-proof Senate,” Cornyn said.
* Norm Coleman will appeal to the state Supreme Court, reportedly next week. Why his legal team couldn’t file the appeal immediately is unclear.
* The Democratic National Committee is not only urging Coleman to stop dragging this out, it’s also airing a radio ad in the Twin Cities media market with the same message.
* In New York’s 20th, Democrat Scott Murphy has seen his lead over Republican Jim Tedisco jump to 168 votes, based on this morning’s tally from the state Board of Elections.
* Speaking of New York’s 20th, Tedisco’s team has, in an odd move, decided to challenge the absentee ballot cast by Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.).
* The latest numbers from Public Policy Polling show Sen. Richard Burr’s approval rating at just 35%. It should send a pretty strong signal to Democratic state Attorney General Roy Cooper, who leads Burr in a hypothetical match-up by four points, 41% to 37%.
* Is Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) going to seek re-election next year? He’s apparently undecided.
