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.
* If New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine (D) is going to make his move and win re-election, he’s going to have to do it soon. A new survey from Public Policy Polling shows Corzine trailing Republican Chris Christie by 14 points, 50% to 36%. The margin is up from Christie’s 10-point lead a month ago. The election is about three months away.
* Just when it seemed Sen. Chris Dodd’s (D-Conn.) re-election campaign was getting back on track, an old controversy about his mortgage makes a comeback. This week, the AP reported that a former Countrywide official “has told House and Senate investigators that [Dodd] knew that he was part of the company’s VIP loan program.”
* In an interesting experiment, the 2010 Iowa caucuses — not to be confused with the 2012 Iowa caucuses — will apparently be held on a Saturday, instead of a Tuesday. While presidential candidates will obviously not be on the ballot, these caucuses matter in state legislative races. If it goes well (i.e., stronger turnout), keep an eye on whether this might be a permanent change.
* Joining a long list, Rep. Mike McIntyre (D-N.C.) announced yesterday that he will seek re-election, and skip a race against Sen. Richard Burr (R) next year. Still on the DSCC’s radar are North Carolina Secretary of State Elaine Marshall and former state senator and Iraq war veteran Cal Cunningham.
* National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Pete Sessions (R-Texas), perhaps best known for saying he wants his party to emulate the Taliban, announced this morning that his NRCC would target as many as 80 House Democrats next year.
* And in South Dakota, Stephanie Herseth-Sandlin took a pass on the gubernatorial race, but the party successfully recruited their #2 choice, state Sen. Scott Heidepriem, who will probably not have to worry about a primary.
