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.
* Last week, Rep. Pete Sessions (R-Texas) stated his comfort with women paying more for health care than men, comparing women with smokers. His Democratic challenger, attorney Grier Raggio, and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, are now making this a key campaign issue.
* A new Quinnipiac poll in Ohio shows Gov. Ted Strickland (D) tied with former Rep. Rep. John Kasich (R) in next year’s gubernatorial race, 40% each.
* In Connecticut, state Attorney General Richard Blumenthal (D) probably isn’t running for governor next year, but expect him to run a strong campaign against Joe Lieberman in 2012.
* And speaking of Connecticut, Ned Lamont has brought on Howard Wolfson, a longtime Hillary Clinton aide, to help advise his gubernatorial campaign.
* In California, Senate hopeful Carly Fiorina (R) is trying to make an issue of Sen. Barbara Boxer (D) preferring to be called “senator,” and not “ma’am.” Fiorina is “hitting Boxer with a new Web ad and a new Website devoted entirely to this criticism.”
* Rep. Mark Kirk (R), running for the Senate in Illinois, has traditionally tried to position himself as a pro-choice moderate. But after his vote on the Stupak amendment, NARAL Pro-Choice America said the organization “no longer considers Kirk pro-choice” on abortion. (thanks to reader G.K. for the heads-up)
* Gallup shows Republicans taking a slight edge over Dems on the generic congressional ballot question, 48% to 44%. I’m still skeptical about the predictive value of generic-ballot polls a year before an election.
