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 Massachusetts, Rasmussen has Martha Coakley (D) leading Scott Brown (R) by just two, 49% to 47%.
* Dems are worried enough about the race that the DSCC has made a quick $567,000 ad buy to boost Coakley’s chances. The SEIU is up with a major ad buy of its own, which connects Brown to Sarah Palin.
* Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s (D-Nev.) probably doesn’t need more evidence to know his re-election bid is in trouble, but he got some anyway — a new Rasmussen poll shows Reid trailing two of his GOP challengers by double digits. Worse, the margin has grown over the last month.
* Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper (D) has agreed to run for governor in Colorado last year, following encouragement from the president and other leading Dems. Hickenlooper is expected to get the Democratic nomination and will likely face former Rep. Scott McInnis (R) in November.
* Former Rep. Tom Campbell (R) has been running for governor, but his campaign has struggled badly. Campbell is now poised to drop out — and run for the Senate instead. He would face Carly Fiorina in a GOP primary.
* Connecticut Secretary of State Susan Bysiewicz (D) was the leading gubernatorial candidate, but yesterday, she switched gears and decided to run in state’s attorney general race. Bysiewicz’s departure makes it that much more likely that Ned Lamont will be well positioned to be Connecticut’s next governor.
* Rep. Bart Stupak (D) seems interested in running for governor in Michigan this year, and has scheduled some in-state traveling outside his district. Stupak added that that he would skip the race if there’s a crowded primary.
* And in Maryland, Rep. Donna Edwards’ (D) primary challenger dropped out yesterday, all but assuring her re-election to the House.
