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.
* The polls in New Jersey’s gubernatorial race continue to be all over the place. A new Quinnipiac poll released this morning shows Gov. Jon Corzine (D) leading Chris Christie (R) by five, 43% to 38%. It’s the first time Corzine has led in a Quinnipiac poll all year. Two weeks ago, Quinnipiac had Christie up by one.
* In Virginia’s gubernatorial race, Bob McDonnell (R) appears to be pulling away from Creigh Deeds (D). SurveyUSA now has McDonnell up by 17, while Public Policy Polling shows him leading by 15.
* There’s increasing grumbling among Virginia Democrats that Deeds isn’t just going to lose, but may also be a drag on Democratic candidates down-ballot.
* Despite Deeds’ troubles, President Obama campaigned alongside the gubernatorial hopeful yesterday in Norfolk. “A lot of people are saying, ‘Oh, you know, the polls don’t look the way we want them to,’ and ‘I’m not sure it’s going to happen,’” the president said. “Listen, let me tell you something. I don’t believe in can’t. I don’t believe in giving up.”
* Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman in New York’s 23rd continues to pick up endorsements from leading right-wing figures. Yesterday, Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) bucked his party and threw his support to Hoffman. Reps. Tom Cole of Oklahoma and Dana Rohrabacher of California did the same thing.
* And Sen. Arlen Specter’s standing in Pennsylvania continues to fall in advance of his re-election bid next year. A new Franklin and Marshall poll shows him leading Rep. Joe Sestak in a Democratic primary by 12, down from a 26-point lead in August. The poll put Specter’s overall approval rating at just 29%.
