TUESDAY’S CAMPAIGN ROUND-UP…. Today’s installment of campaign-related news items that wouldn’t necessarily generate a post of their own, but may be of interest to political observers:
* With Mark Dayton (D) leading Tom Emmer (R) after the recount in Minnesota’s gubernatorial race, Public Policy Polling found that 68% of Minnesotans believe Dayton won and Emmer should quit. As for the next step, Emmer continues to hope for more luck from the state canvassing board, which will consider challenged ballots tomorrow.
* Speaking of technically unresolved statewide races that appear to be over, Sen. Mark Begich (D-Alaska) has begun weighing in on this year’s Senate race in his home state, yesterday urging Joe Miller (R) to concede. Begich’s office issued a statement describing Miller’s ongoing court fight as “virtually certain to fail,” adding that a prolonged fight “could deny Alaska full representation in the Senate” in January.
* Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) isn’t making much of an effort to hide his willingness to challenge Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) in 2012. After forming a new leadership PAC, Chaffetz said of Hatch, “He’s a good senator, he’s a conservative senator. I still might run against him.”
* Florida state Senate President Mike Haridopolos (R) is gearing up for a U.S. Senate campaign in 2012, but is off to a rough start. He pleaded guilty late last week to breaking state ethics laws — he failed to fill out financial disclosure forms for the last five years.
* Don’t be too surprised if outgoing Rep. Alan Mollohan (D-W.Va.), after having lost this year, tries to make a comeback in 2012.
* Former half-term Gov. Sarah Palin (R) won’t run for Republican National Committee chairman, despite the urging of a national tea party group.
