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.
* Perhaps no one has more negative feelings about Delaware Senate hopeful Christine O’Donnell (R) than those who used to work for her.
* A new Quinnipiac poll shows the Buckeye State, which President Obama won two years ago, moving sharply to the right. In Ohio’s open U.S. Senate race, former Bush Budget Director Rob Portman (R) now leads Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher (D) by a whopping 20 points. The same poll found that 58% of Ohio voters want a senator who opposes White House policies.
* In Georgia, Republican gubernatorial nominee Nathan Deal is leading in the polls, but his personal finances look far worse than his political fortunes. In the wake of a failed business venture, Deal is reportedly poised to sell his home to avert foreclosure or bankruptcy.
* In New York, former Sen. Alfonse D’Amato (R) is so unimpressed with his party’s gubernatorial nominee, Carl Paladino, that D’Amato described him “dangerous” and unfit for office.
* In Alaska, radical Senate hopeful Joe Miller (R) is the target of a new progressive ad, highlighting the candidate’s extremist beliefs. Parodying a Discovery Channel program, Miller is labeled “The Craziest Catch.”
* A poll from the Arkansas News Bureau shows Rep. John Boozman (R) trouncing incumbent Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D), 51% to 34%. Oddly enough, most other recent polls show Lincoln trailing by an even larger margin, so maybe this will be perceived as good news by the Democrat’s campaign.
* In Tennessee, Republican congressional hopeful Scott DesJarlais, taking on Rep. Lincoln Davis (D), has been accused of harassing, intimidating, and abusing his ex-wife.
* And in Texas’ gubernatorial race, a UT/Texas Tribune poll finds Gov. Rick Perry (R) hanging onto a modest lead over former Houston Mayor Bill White (R), 39% to 33%.
