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.
* Yesterday’s cliffhanger in Georgia’s Republican gubernatorial primary appears to have been resolved. This morning, Georgia Secretary of State Karen Handel reportedly conceded to former Rep. Nathan Deal, who appears to have won by less than 1%. Deal will face former Gov. Roy Barnes (D) in November.
* Florida Gov. Charlie Crist (I) will attend a fundraising event tonight hosted by Clinton campaign aides Mark Penn and Nancy Jacobson, suggesting increasing Democratic support for the former Republican in this year’s Senate race.
* Speaking of Florida, if you’re inclined to believe Rasmussen, the pollster shows Crist edging Marco Rubio (R) by one if Jeff Greene is the Democratic nominee, but trailing Rubio by five if Rep. Kendrick Meek wins the Dem primary.
* In his first television ad of the cycle, Rep. Charlie Melancon, the Democratic Senate nominee in Louisiana, tells voters that Sen. David Vitter (R) “hasn’t been honest with Louisiana.” Melancon adds, “I’m a pro-life, pro-gun Louisiana Democrat. I’ve been a businessman most of my life…. I’ll work with anyone, if it’s the right thing to do for Louisiana.”
* In Ohio, a Reuters/Ipsos poll shows former Bush budget director Rob Portman (R) leading this year’s open Senate race, topping Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher (D) by seven, 43% to 36%. The poll also shows a considerable enthusiasm gap benefiting the GOP.
* In the state of Washington, which has a top-two, multi-candidate primary, SurveyUSA shows Sen. Patty Murray (D) leading Dino Rossi (R) , 41% to 33%. Both are expected to be the finalists next week, and will face off, head to head, in November.
* And in Indiana, Rasmussen shows corporate lobbyist Dan Coats (R) trouncing Rep. Brad Ellsworth (D) in this year’s Senate race, 50% to 29%.
