TUESDAY’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.
* Four states — North Carolina, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Utah — will host primary elections today. Arguably the most competitive contests to keep an eye on are two Senate primaries: Democrats in North Carolina, and Republicans in Utah.
* In Texas, a new survey from Public Policy Polling shows the gubernatorial race unexpectedly tied. Incumbent Gov. Rick Perry (R) and former Houston Mayor Bill White (D) have 43% support each in the poll, with White benefiting from a six-point lead among Texas independents.
* Her support is below the 50% threshold, but Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) still has big leads in a new Quinnipiac poll over her Republican challengers.
* On a related note, the same poll shows state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo (D) with 2-to-1 leads in New York’s gubernatorial race.
* It’s Rasmussen, so take the results with a grain of salt, but its latest poll in Arizona shows Sen. John McCain leading former Rep. J.D. Hayworth in a Republican primary, 47% to 36%.
* Former wrestling executive Linda McMahon is expected to be the Republican Senate candidate in Connecticut, but economist Peter Schiff, a former Ron Paul backer, has secured enough petition signatures to qualify for the primary ballot.
* In New Hampshire, Rep. Paul Hodes (D) is going after former state Attorney General Kelly Ayotte (R) in a new TV ad, mocking her handling of an alleged mortgage fraud scheme.
* There’s at least a possibility that Bob Vander Plaats, who recently lost the Republican gubernatorial primary in Iowa, may run as an independent, undermining Terry Branstad’s (R) campaign.
* And in Nevada, journalists have grown so frustrated by Republican Senate candidate Sharron Angle’s refusal to talk to reporters that an NBC affiliate in Nevada has resorted to practically begging the right-wing extremist to talk about her record and views for the public’s benefit.
