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.
* This morning, the National Republican Senatorial Committee pulled its “hicky” ad from West Virginia airwaves. Probably a good move under the circumstances. West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin (D), meanwhile, wants John Raese (R) and his party to apologize, but that hasn’t happened yet.
* Two weeks ago, a Quinnipiac poll showed a surprisingly competitive gubernatorial race in New York. That’s changed quickly — the pollster’s new numbers show Andrew Cuomo (D) leading Carl Paladino (R), 55% to 37%.
* Sen. Russ Feingold (D) appears to be in real trouble in Wisconsin this year, but for reasons I don’t fully understand, he doesn’t want the DSCC to make any investments on his behalf before the election.
* Scandal-plagued Sen. David Vitter (R) was supposed to attend a candidates’ debate in Houma, Louisiana, on Tuesday. Vitter, who hadn’t declined the invitation, decided to skip the unscripted Q&A and go to a Republicans-only event 50 miles away.
* In Nevada’s U.S. Senate race, a new Time/CNN poll shows Sharron Angle (R) leading Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D) by two, 42% to 40%. (Among registered voters, Reid has a double-digit lead, suggesting there’s still an enthusiasm gap.)
* In one of New York’s two U.S. Senate races this year, incumbent Kirsten Gillibrand (D) leads Joseph DioGuardi (R) by 14 in a new Time/CNN poll (55% to 41%), and by 10 in a new PPP survey (50% to 40%).
* On a related note, the same PPP survey shows Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) leading his GOP challenger, 59% to 37%.
* In Missouri’s U.S. Senate race, a new Time/CNN poll shows Roy Blunt (R) well ahead of Robin Carnahan (D), 53% to 40%, in a race Dems hoped to be a key pick-up opportunity.
* In Connecticut’s U.S. Senate race, a new Time/CNN poll shows Richard Blumenthal (D) still up by double digits over Linda McMahon (R), 54% to 41%. The same poll shows Dan Malloy (D) leading Tom Foley (R) in Connecticut’s gubernatorial race, 50% to 42%.
* And in Hawaii’s gubernatorial race, the latest survey from Public Policy Polling shows Rep. Neil Abercrombie (D) leading Duke Aiona (R) but only by two points, 49% to 47%.
