FRIDAY’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.
* A new Suffolk University poll in Massachusetts shows Scott Brown (R) leading Martha Coakley (D) by four, 50% to 46%. Independent Joe Kennedy was at 3%. A Research 2000 poll released a few hours earlier showed Coakley up by eight, 49% to 41%, but the Suffolk poll is being taken more seriously, and the panic in Democratic circles nationwide is palpable.
* Vicki Kennedy filmed a new television ad for Coakley, which was released this morning and will be on Massachusetts TV sets soon.
* President Obama filmed a video message and a new robocall message on Coakley’s behalf. There are also unconfirmed rumors about a possible presidential visit to the Bay State before Tuesday.
* Ted Kennedy Jr. is also appealing to voters, yesterday releasing an emotional email message in support of Coakley.
* In North Dakota, a new Research 2000 poll shows Gov. John Hoeven (R) with huge leads over his Democratic challengers in this year’s open Senate race. Hoeven’s closest competitor, former state Attorney General Heidi Heitkamp, trails him by 21 points.
* In light of the difficulties from earlier this week, the Senate Majority Leader is probably pleased to see the launch of “African-Americans for Senator Harry Reid.”
* Taegan Goddard ponders the possibility of former Rep. Harold Ford (D-Tenn.) running for the Senate in New York as an independent. This morning, Ford sounded open to the idea.
* And speaking of New York, if state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo (D) runs for governor as expected, money won’t be an issue for his campaign — Cuomo has more than $16 million in his coffers, more than five times the size of Gov. David Paterson’s (D) war chest.
* And in South Carolina, don’t be surprised if Strom Thurmond’s youngest son, the 33-year-old Paul Thurmond, runs for Congress this year.
