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.
* Creigh Deeds, the Democratic gubernatorial hopeful in Virginia, has a new strategy in mind to go after frontrunner Bob McDonnell (R). A source close to the candidate told Chris Cillizza that Deeds “will cast the race as a choice between the policies put in place by popular Democratic Govs. Mark Warner and Tim Kaine and those of former president George W. Bush.”
* DNC fundraising outpaced RNC fundraising in July, $9 million to $6 million. The prior was no doubt helped by a major fundraiser President Obama held for the DNC in Chicago last month.
* As for the campaign committee, the National Republican Senatorial Committee edged out its Democratic counterpart in July, $2.75 million to just over $2 million.
* Former Florida House Speaker Marco Rubio’s Senate campaign is struggling, facing Gov. Charlie Crist in a Republican primary. Rubio does enjoy the support of the party’s far-right base, however, as evidenced by the new cover story from the National Review.
* Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter’s (D) re-election efforts are looking shaky at this point, with a new survey from Public Policy Polling showing the incumbent trailing former Rep. Scott McInnis (R) in a hypothetical general election match-up, 46% to 38%. Ritter’s biggest hurdle right now is weak support from Colorado’s Democrats. Party leaders fear a tough gubernatorial race will also have down-ballot consequences, especially for Sen. Michael Bennet (D).
* Kentucky Secretary of State Trey Grayson is expected to be the Republicans’ Senate candidate next year, but a new poll shows Ron Paul’s son, ophthalmologist Rand Paul, creeping up on the party establishment’s pick.
* And in Utah, Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R) continues to flirt with the idea of taking on Sen. Bob Bennett in a Republican primary next year. Chaffetz has already reserved ChaffetzForSenate.com, though he said it was a precautionary move — he didn’t want someone else taking it while he weighs his options.
