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.
* Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand’s (D-N.Y.) campaign for a full term got a big boost yesterday when the NARAL Pro-Choice America political action committee threw its support to the incumbent.
* In related news, while the Democratic primary in the Senate race in New York is pretty intense, it’s far from clear who the nominee will face on Election Day. Yesterday, Rep. Peter King (R-N.Y.) accepted a key slot on the House Intelligence Committee, which by King’s own admission, makes a Senate campaign far less likely.
* Joe Torsella, who briefly sought the Democratic nod in next year’s Senate race in Pennsylvania, has officially endorsed Arlen Specter. Keep in mind, Torsella was deputy Philadelphia mayor under now-Gov. Ed Rendell (D), and Rendell is heavily involved in supporting Specter.
* In Florida, a Mason-Dixon poll found that Charlie Crist still has a huge lead over Marco Rubio in the Republican Senate primary, but that lead all but disappears among Florida Republicans who know both candidates well. It suggests Rubio, if he can raise a lot of money, may have a legitimate shot at an upset in the primary.
* Mason-Dixon also polled Florida’s gubernatorial race, and found state Attorney General Bill McCollum (R) leading Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink (D), 41% to 35%. The good news for Sink is that she’s close, despite having only 61% name recognition (McCollum’s name I.D. is 87%).
* Rep. Don Young (R) of Alaska, despite a series of scandals and close calls, will seek a 19th term next year.
* Rudy Giuliani conceded to CNN yesterday that he’s thinking about running for governor of New York next year. You don’t say.
* Add another name to the mix for the Senate race in Illinois next year: Chicago Urban League head Cheryle Jackson.
* It may sound ridiculous, but House Republican Conference Chairman Mike Pence (R-Ind.) may be thinking about a presidential campaign. Seriously.
