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.
* With a closely-watched Senate race in Nevada this year, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s (D-Nev.) re-election prospects may depend, at least in part, on whether there’s a Tea Party candidate splitting the right. At this point, the Tea Party of Nevada is apparently in the midst of an intense conflict with Tea Party Nation — the latter believes the former is phony.
* In Illinois’ key Senate race, Rep. Mark Kirk (R) launched his first television ad of the general election today. He uses the word “Republican,” but also highlights the word “independent” in an on-screen graphic.
* Florida’s gubernatorial campaign is eight months away, but neither state Attorney General Bill McCollum (R) nor state CFO Alex Sink (D) are especially well known.
* Carly Fiorina’s (R) increasingly odd Senate campaign in California seems to have a real fondness for creating bizarre web videos.
* Corporate D.C. lobbyist Dan Coats (R), running for the Senate in Indiana, claims to hate the 2008 financial industry bailout. His lobbying record, however, paints a different picture.
* Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero’s (D) gubernatorial campaign in Michigan got a boost on Friday when the state AFL-CIO endorsed him.
* And in 2012 news, Minnesotans have seen Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R) up close for two terms, and a majority of them have no intention of supporting his presidential campaign. Probably not a good sign.
