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.
* As if she weren’t offensive enough, extremist Senate candidate Sharron Angle’s (R) new attack ad has not-so-subtle racial undertones. It’s hard to watch without thinking of Jesse Helms.
* In case there were any doubts, Dems really are worried about Connecticut. The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee has added an additional $1.2 million in advertising in the state for the final three weeks of the cycle, hoping to help state Attorney General Richard Blumenthal (D) hang on against scandal-plagued wrestling executive Linda McMahon (R).
* Delaware’s U.S. Senate race appears to be getting less competitive as it progresses. A new University of Delaware poll shows Chris Coons (D) leading Christine O’Donnell (R), 61% to 37%.
* In California’s key statewide races, the latest Reuters/Ipsos poll shows Sen. Barbara Boxer (D) up by four in the U.S. Senate race, and state A.G. Jerry Brown (D) leading by seven in the gubernatorial race.
* In New York’s gubernatorial race, the latest survey from Public Policy Polling shows Andrew Cuomo (D) leading Carl Paladino (R) by 15, 53% to 38%.
* In Pennsylvania’s key statewide races, the latest Morning Call/Muhlenberg College poll shows former Rep. Pat Toomey (R) leading the U.S. Senate race by seven points, and state A.G. Tom Corbett (R) leading the gubernatorial race by 11 points
* Ohio’s U.S. Senate race was once considered one of the more competitive open-seat contests, but not anymore. A new Quinnipiac poll shows former Bush budget director Rob Portman (R) leading Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher (D), 55% to 36%, among likely voters.
* The U.S. House race in New York’s 23rd got a little less complicated this week with Tea Party favorite Doug Hoffman’s withdrawal, setting up a one-to-one contest between Rep. Bill Owens (D) and GOP challenger Matt Doheny in a traditionally “red” district.
* In New Mexico’s gubernatorial race, the latest Albuquerque Journal poll shows Susana Martinez (R) continuing to lead Lt. Gov. Diane Denish (D), 47% to 41%.
* And in one of only a handful of Democratic U.S. House pick-up opportunities, the latest survey from PPP in Hawaii’s 1st district shows Colleen Hanabusa (D) with the narrowest of leads over Rep. Charles Djou (R), 48% to 47%.
