MONDAY’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.
* Health concerns have forced Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.) to limit his work schedule, but he nevertheless took time to film a 30-second commercial in support of Sen. Chris Dodd’s (D-Conn.) re-election campaign.
* In the wake of an embarrassing sex scandal, Sen. John Ensign (R-Nev.) has seen his approval rating drop to 39%. The Mason-Dixon poll, however, found that more than six in 10 Nevadans do not think Ensign should resign.
* Interestingly enough, even now, Ensign’s approval rating is slightly higher than that of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), who is seeking re-election next year.
* Much to the delight of Democratic recruiters, Rep. Charlie Melancon (D) has decided he will run against Sen. David Vitter (R) next year in Louisiana.
* Much to the delight of Republican recruiters, it looks like Rep. Mike Castle (R) has decided to run for the Senate in Delaware next year.
* A new Public Policy Polling survey shows Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland’s (D) approval rating dropping to 42%. In a hypothetical match-up against congressman-turned-Fox News personality John Kasich, the poll shows Strickland leading by just two points, 44% to 42%.
* Speaking of Ohio, House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) will apparently not face a primary challenge next year, after all.
* New Yorker Tom Golisano is eyeing a Senate campaign in Florida? As a Democrat?
