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.
* In the race to take Rep. Michele Bachmann (R) in Minnesota next year, her 2008 opponent, El Tinklenberg (D), was preparing for a rematch but has instead decided to bow out. The move signals party support for state Senate assistant majority leader Tarryl Clark (D).
* Why are Dems struggling in Virginia’s gubernatorial race this year? It may have something to do with a motivated state Republican Party — filled with right-wing “birthers.”
* While the Republican establishment continues to rally behind former New Hampshire Attorney General Kelly Ayotte’s Senate campaign, her likely primary opponents show no signs of getting out of the way. Former gubernatorial nominee Ovide Lamontagne announced yesterday that he’s launching a series of stops statewide, as part of an apparent pre-campaign tour.
* We won’t have to wait too much longer to learn whether Rep. Mike Castle (R) will run for the Senate next year — he’ll announce his intentions within the next month.
* Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak (D) is seeking re-election this year, but apparently also has his eyes on Minnesota’s wide-open gubernatorial campaign next year. If Rybak runs, he’ll likely be considered the frontrunner.
* A new Field Poll survey released yesterday shows California’s political mainstream and California’s Republican Party moving in different directions.
