FRIDAY’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.
* With just a few days to go before Virginia’s Democratic gubernatorial primary, the latest Suffolk University poll shows state Senator Creigh Deeds surging out in front with 29% support, followed by Terry McAuliffe at 26%, and former state House Delegate Brian Moran with 23%.
* On a related note, the latest Research 2000 poll for Daily Kos also shows Deeds surging from third to first, leading with 30%, followed by Moran at 27%, and McAuliffe at 26%.
* In an awkward development in Nevada, Republican Gov. Jim Gibbons would like to help defeat Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D) next year, but yesterday, Reid picked up an endorsement from Gibbons’ wife. Nevada’s First Couple are in the midst of a bitter and ugly divorce.
* Rumor has it that former Sen. Norm Coleman (R) may concede after all if (when) he fails at the Minnesota Supreme Court.
* Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.), in a surprise move, announced yesterday she is not running for the Senate next year, despite reports she was moving closer to a primary challenge against Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand. Maloney’s apparent reversal came shortly after she was pressured by Vice President Biden to skip the race.
* In related news, Gillibrand was endorsed this morning by the Rev. Al Sharpton and Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.).
* Far-right bloggers are going to have to work a lot harder: Gov. Charlie Crist is crushing former state House Speaker Marco Rubio in Florida’s GOP Senate primary.
* And Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas) hopes to use his fundraising network to help finance his son’s Senate campaign in Kentucky. His son, Rand, has never held elected office.
