TUESDAY’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.
* While Rep. Joe Sestak (D) is getting some grassroots (and netroots) encouragement to run against Sen. Arlen Specter in a Democratic primary next year, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and the White House will be pushing Sestak in the other direction.
* On a related note, Specter is doing quite a bit of outreach to local Democratic leaders in Pennsylvania, some of whom are less amenable than others.
* In a big setback for Republican recruiting efforts, former U.S. Attorney Tim Griffin (R) announced over the weekend that he is not running for the Senate next year in Arkansas. Griffin had been the leading challenger to take on Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D). For now, Lincoln’s leading opponent is state Sen. Kim Hendren (R), best known for recently calling Chuck Schumer “that Jew.”
* President Obama will be in Las Vegas later today, appearing at a fundraiser for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.).
* And speaking of Reid, a right-wing political action committee called “Our Country Deserves Better” is launching an ad blitz, attacking the Senate Majority Leader.
* Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.) is still vulnerable, but with no top-tier Dems running, the latest survey from Public Policy Polling shows Burr leading his remaining potential opponents by healthy margins.
