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.
* Former Rep. Joseph P. Kennedy II (D-Mass.) announced yesterday he will not run for the Senate seat left vacant by his uncle, Ted Kennedy.
* In related news, Canton Selectman Bob Burr (R) is running for the Senate in Massachusetts’ upcoming special election. He may face retired baseball player/GOP activist Curt Schilling, who published a political platform the other day. Former Lt. Gov. Kerry Healey (R), who served under Mitt Romney for one term, has decided not to run.
* As for Democrats in the Massachusetts race, it looks like Rep. Ed Markey (D) is getting ready to launch a campaign. He would face, at a minimum, state Attorney General Martha Coakley in a Democratic primary.
* In Iowa, Bob Vander Plaats (R) announced that he’s running for governor next year, vowing to fight for “true conservative principles.” Former Gov. Terry Branstad (R) continues to eye the race, and would be the favorite if he runs.
* In New Jersey, this seems like a detail voters will hear more about: “The New Jersey governor’s race is getting so down and dirty that nothing is off limits. Not even Chris Christie’s driving the wrong way on a one-way street, crashing into a motorcyclist, sending the motorcyclist to the hospital, flashing his US Attorney ID to get out of a ticket, apparently settling a lawsuit with a non-disclosed settlement and then lying about ever being sued in the first place.”
* Creigh Deeds (D) is launching his first TV ad campaign in voter-right northern Virginia this week.
* Is Rudy Giuliani poised to launch a gubernatorial campaign? He’s “still thinking” about it.
