MONDAY’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 the last primary day of the year, Hawaii Democrats nominated Rep. Neil Abercrombie as their gubernatorial candidate, and he’ll take on Lt. Gov. James “Duke” Aiona (R) in November. Abercrombie cruised past former Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann by more than 20 points.
* The back and forth between Jerry Brown and Bill Clinton appears to be over, with the former president announcing that he’ll campaign in California next month, supporting the Dems’ gubernatorial nominee.
* In Georgia’s gubernatorial race, Rep. Nathan Deal (R) continues to struggle with the prospect of personal financial ruin around the time of the election.
* The DSCC has launched a new ad in Delaware, targeting Senate hopeful Christine O’Donnell’s (R) record of fiscal irresponsibility, including failing to pay her taxes and hiring employees she later refused to pay.
* In Pennsylvania’s Senate race, a new Times Leader poll shows former Rep. Pat Toomey (R) leading Rep. Joe Sestak (D) by four, 40% to 36%. Most recent polling has shown Toomey with much bigger leads.
* In California’s Senate race, a new survey from Public Policy Polling shows incumbent Sen. Barbara Boxer (D) ahead by eight over failed former HP CEO Carly Fiorina (R), 50% to 42%.
* Arkansas continues to move sharply to the right, but Gov. Mike Beebe (D) isn’t feeling the effects — a Mason-Dixon poll shows the incumbent with a huge lead in his re-election bid.
* The Senate race in Utah was not expected to be competitive, and it’s not — a Deseret News poll shows Mike Lee (R) leading Sam Granato (D) by more than a two-to-one margin.
* And in the Values Voter Summit’s 2012 presidential straw poll, House Republican Conference Chairman Mike Pence (R-Ind.) came out on top, edging out former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee (R).
