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.
* After 21 years as Chicago’s top dog, Mayor Richard M. Daley (D) will not seek re-election next year. Speculation immediately turned to White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, who has expressed an interest in the job.
* Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski lost her Republican primary, but she’s not prepared to walk away. “I have not made that determination that I’m going to give up,” Murkowski declared. “I’m not a quitter, never have been. And I’m still in this game.”
* On a related note, David Haase, the Alaska Libertarian Party’s Senate nominee, conceded yesterday that he’d met with Murkowski. He said he’s “considering” bowing out and letting the incumbent senator run on his ballot slot.
* Rep. Mike Castle, running for the Senate in Delaware, went after his primary challenger, Christine O’Donnell for tax problems in her background. Castle had to be embarrassed, then, when we learned he’s had to make interest and penalty payments on his Capitol Hill apartment, too.
* On a related note, Castle, who didn’t expect to have to spend any money on his primary, has now purchased a second round of television advertising time in Delaware. The race is clearly making Republicans very nervous.
* In Colorado, a Public Opinion Strategies poll shows Sen. Michael Bennet (D) with a narrow lead over right-wing challenger Ken Buck (R), 43% to 40%.
* Speaking of Buck, the Republican Senate hopeful has been caught scrubbing his website of some of his controversial policy positions.
* And in still more Colorado news, the Public Opinion Strategies poll also shows Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper (D) with a big lead in this year’s gubernatorial campaign, leading the three-way field with 48% support. Dan Maes (R) is second at 25%, followed by former Rep. Tom Tancredo (I) with 15%.
* Texas Watch published a poll this week showing a very competitive gubernatorial race in the Lone Star State. Incumbent Gov. Rick Perry (R) still leads former Houston Mayor Bill White (D), but by the slimmest of margins, 42% to 41%.
* And union powerhouse AFSCME launches a new ad campaign this week in four states — Nevada, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Michigan — touting Democratic economic policies over the GOP’s.
