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.
* Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) is “very confident” that no other House Democrats will switch parties before the midterm elections.
* Remember former Travis County District Attorney Ronnie Earle, perhaps best known for prosecuting disgraced former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R)? Earle is now running for lieutenant governor in Texas as a Democrat.
* In Alabama, Rep. Parker Griffith, who became a Republican last week, is still facing a crowded GOP primary. But what about a Democratic opponent? The DCCC has reached out to state Agriculture Commissioner Ron Sparks, who is running an uphill gubernatorial campaign and may be interested in jumping into the House race.
* Louisiana Democrats taking on Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) next year believe they have yet another key issue — Vitter blocked the EPA from releasing a report on the dangers posed by formaldehyde. The issue is of particular significance in Louisiana in light of the 34,000 Louisianans who lived in FEMA trailers after Hurricane Katrina.
* Rep. Allen Boyd (D-Fla.), a prominent Blue Dog, would ostensibly be a top GOP target next year, but Roll Call reports that Republicans are “having recruiting problems in Florida’s Panhandle-based 2nd district.”
* It may seem early, but Rep. Tim Bishop’s (D-N.Y.) Republican opponent launched a general-election ad this morning, 11 months before Election Day.
* And in Ohio, former representative and convicted felon Jim Traficant is apparently contemplating a comeback, and may run in a Democratic primary against a yet-to-be named House incumbent.
