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.
* In Florida, Gov. Charlie Crist (R) has taken a pounding for weeks from his Senate primary rival, former state House Speaker Marco Rubio (R). National Journal reports that Crist is now poised to start punching back. The governor’s campaign manager said Rubio “has had five to six months of the ability to go around and say whatever he’d like, and that’s now changing.”
* A new survey (pdf) from Public Policy Polling shows a very competitive Senate contest in Missouri, one of next year’s most closely watched races. The poll shows Rep. Roy Blunt (R) with a large lead over his primary opponent, but Blunt currently trails Missouri Secretary of State Robin Carnahan by the narrowest of margins, 43% to 42%.
* New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo (D) has not officially launched a gubernatorial campaign yet, but he and his team have reportedly begun looking at possible running mates. On the list is New York City Comptroller Bill Thompson, who recently looked quite strong in a narrow defeat against NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
* Virginia Gov. and DNC Chairman Tim Kaine spent some time this week talking about Creigh Deeds (D) getting trounced in this year’s gubernatorial race. Kaine believes Deeds would have fared far better if he’d motivated the Democratic base and stuck closer to President Obama.
* Next year’s gubernatorial race in Kansas may be an open-seat contest, but Sen. Sam Brownback (R) looks so strong, he’s spent the last several months running unopposed. Tom Wiggans (D), a Kansas business leader, announced yesterday that he’ll take on Brownback. It will be Wiggans’ first attempt at elected office, and he will likely face no opposition for the Democratic nomination.
* Don’t be too surprised if former HHS Secretary and Gov. Tommy Thompson (R) runs against Sen. Russ Feingold (D) next year in Wisconsin.
* In Connecticut, former wrestling executive Linda McMahon’s (R) Senate campaign continues to struggle in being taken seriously. A former employee is now blasting McMahon for, among other things, failing to provide health care and pensions for her wrestlers.
