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.
* Given a variety of recent controversies surrounding Chris Christie, the Republican gubernatorial hopeful in New Jersey, Democrats hoped to see Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine narrowing the gap. A new Quinnipiac poll doesn’t show that at all, with Christie still leading Corzine by 10, 47% to 37%. Independent Chris Daggett is third with 9%.
* On the other hand, a poll on the same race from Farleigh Dickenson University shows Christie’s lead over Corzine at just five points, 47% to 42%.
* In Virginia, a new survey from Public Policy Polling shows an increasingly competitive contest, with Republican Bob McDonnell now leading Democrat Creigh Deeds by seven, 49% to 42%. A month ago, PPP had McDonnell up by 14.
* And speaking of McDonnell, his 1989 master’s thesis at TV preacher Pat Robertson’s Regent University is shaking up the gubernatorial race, and the GOP candidate hosted an 80-minute conference call yesterday to discuss the issue in detail. Deeds’ communications director said the story has the “potential to really change the dynamics of this race.”
* In a bit of a surprise, Rep. Peter King (R-N.Y.) announced yesterday that he will not take on Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) next year. He conceded that he was interested in the race, but didn’t think he could raise enough money to win. King’s pass on the race leaves Republicans without a top-tier challenger.
* The DSCC hoped to recruit state Sen. C. Bradley Hutto to take on Sen. Jim DeMint (R) next year in South Carolina, but Hutto has decided to skip the race. His decision leaves Democrats without a top-tier challenger for the Senate’s most right-wing member.
* And in Louisiana, retired Army Gen. Russel Honore is trying to knock down rumors that he’s poised to take on Sen. David Vitter (R) in a Republican primary next year. Honore rejected the rumors, saying, “I am not running for office.”
