MONDAY’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 a disappointment for the DCCC, which hopes to keep retirements to a minimum, Rep. Dennis Moore (D) of Kansas announced this morning that he’ll retire at the end of this term. Republicans immediately declared it a major pick-up opportunity, but it’s probably best described as a swing district — Bush carried it easily in 2000 and 2004, but President Obama narrowly won Kansas’ 3rd last year.
* With two weeks to go before the Senate primary in Massachusetts, a Boston Globe poll shows state Attorney General Martha Coakley (D) with a big lead over Rep. Michael Capuano (D), 43% to 22%.”Things could change, but it would have to go really sour for [Coakley] over the next few weeks,” said pollster Andrew E. Smith.
* On the other hand, Capuano is still picking up support. Late last week, Diane Patrick, Gov. Deval Patrick’s (D) wife, threw her support to the congressman.
* New York Gov. David Paterson (D) recently launched a television ad campaign to boost his standing, but so far, the efforts have not paid dividends. The latest Marist poll found that a majority of New Yorkers have seen at least one of the commercials, but it didn’t matter — nearly two-thirds of those who saw one of the ads still hope Paterson doesn’t seek another term next year. Oddly enough, the governor fared slightly better among those who didn’t see any of the ads.
* Next year’s gubernatorial race in Michigan is still wide open. A new Denno-Noor poll shows Lt. Gov. John Cherry (D) leading the Democratic field, but he only has 20% support and most Michigan Dems are undecided. Likewise, Rep. Pete Hoekstra (R) leads the GOP field with 21%.
* Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) has had some trouble winning over some of the more progressive members of the New York delegation, but her efforts are beginning to pay off. Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.), one of Congress’ most progressive leaders, will reportedly endorse Gillibrand today.
* It’s unclear if North Dakota Gov. John Hoeven (R) intends to take on Sen. Byron Dorgan (D) next year, but if he does, a Zogby poll shows Hoeven easily defeating the incumbent senator.
* Would demagogic television personality Lou Dobbs run for president in 2012? Dobbs said the idea is not “crazy.” There may be some disagreement on the subject.
