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.
* In April fundraising totals, the DNC outraised the RNC, $10.4 million to $6.9 million. Among the Senate campaign committees, however, the NRSC outraised the DSCC, though the DSCC still has a narrow edge in cash on hand.
* In the first poll since Pennsylvania’s primary, Rasmussen shows Rep. Joe Sestak (D) leading former Rep. Pat Toomey (R), 46% to 42%.
* In Nevada’s closely watched Senate race, Public Policy Polling shows Sue Lowden slipping badly in her Republican primary. Former state Rep. Sharron Angle is now out in front in the GOP field with 29% support, followed by Lowden at 26%, and former college basketball player Danny Tarkanian a close third with 24%.
* With just a month until the runoff election in North Carolina’s Democratic Senate primary, Cal Cunningham’s staff is undergoing a significant shake-up, including the departures of his campaign manager and communications director.
* Utah Sen. Bob Bennett (R) announced yesterday that he will not wage a write-in campaign after all.
* In Minnesota, there’s a fairly large field of credible Democratic gubernatorial candidates, and the latest Minnesota Public Radio/Humphrey Institute poll shows former Sen. Mark Dayton leading the primary field.
* In Washington, former state Sen. Dino Rossi (R) has been contemplating a campaign against incumbent Sen. Patty Murray (D), but the right appears to have grown tired of waiting for him. Yesterday, former half-term Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin (R) announced her support for retired football player Clint Didier’s Senate campaign. The filing deadline is June 11.
* And in Idaho, Vaughn Ward is running for the Republican nomination in Idaho’s 1st House district. Asked in a debate this week whether he would support a measure on Puerto Rican statehood, Ward said he opposes “extending statehood to some, to any other country,” adding that he doesn’t care “what country … wants to become part of America.” Told that Puerto Rico is an American territory, not a foreign country, Ward said, “I really don’t care what it is.”
