THURSDAY’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 Louisiana, Sen. David Vitter’s (R) primary challenger, Chet Traylor, has a very hard-hitting new radio ad, urging Republicans to “man up” and vote out the incumbent.
* In Florida, a new Quinnipiac poll shows Gov. Charlie Crist (I) leading this year’s Senate race, enjoying a seven point lead over Marco Rubio (R), 39% to 32%. Rep. Kendrick Meek (D) is a distant third at 16%.
* On a related note, the same poll shows state CFO Alex Sink (D) edging ahead in Florida’s gubernatorial race, topping state A.G. Bill McCollum (R) by two and disgraced former health care executive Rick Scott by four.
* In Pennsylvania, the latest survey from Public Policy Polling shows former right-wing Rep. Pat Toomey (R) leading Rep. Joe Sestak (D) in this year’s Senate race, 45% to 36%.
* PPP also finds the Republican leading Pennsylvania’s gubernatorial race, with Tom Corbett (R) well ahead of Dan Onorato (D), 48% to 35%.
* Colorado Republicans still hope to convince Dan Maes to drop his odd gubernatorial campaign, even after winning last week’s GOP primary, but the candidate doesn’t appear willing to go anywhere.
* On a related note, Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper (D), now the leading gubernatorial candidate, has an amusing new ad in which he spends a fair amount of time in the shower.
* In Missouri, Senate candidate Robin Carnahan (D) has a tough new ad targeting Rep. Roy Blunt (R), identifying him as the leading proponent of the unpopular financial industry bailout. It includes a quote from CBS’s Bob Schieffer, during an interview with Blunt, identifying the Republican as the man who “carried the water for the Bush administration.”
* To say Republicans are cruising in Kansas’ statewide races would be an understatement. A new SurveyUSA poll shows Rep. Jerry Moran (R) leading the U.S. Senate race by 46 points, and Sen. Sam Brownback (R) leading the gubernatorial race by 42 points.
