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:
* Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) hasn’t said much about his 2012 plans, but he told a local radio station yesterday he believes he can win re-election, and would likely run as an independent. Lieberman didn’t name names, but he added that some of his Democratic colleagues have urged him to run as a Dem, though he’d likely face a very tough primary.
* Mike Duncan, Michael Steele’s predecessor at the Republican National Committee, believes Steele’s efforts to keep his job are doomed. Steele, Duncan said, is effectively “out of the race.”
* Mississippi’s gubernatorial race, one of two statewide contests in 2011, yesterday picked up its first three candidates. Lt. Gov. Phil Bryant (R) kicked off his campaign, and effectively promised to be a clone of incumbent Gov. Haley Barbour (R), who cannot legally seek a third term. Democrat Bill Luckett and Republican Dave Dennis also launched campaigns yesterday.
* It’s been obvious for a while that Rep. Mike Pence (R) of Indiana would seek some sort of promotion in 2012. As of yesterday, it appears that Pence intends to run for governor, not president, next year.
* No U.S. senator votes against his own party more than Nebraska’s Ben Nelson (D). It’s a point he’ll very likely emphasize repeatedly over the next two years. Most recent polling shows him trailing as Nelson gears up for a re-election bid.
* Is Rep. Connie Mack (R) planning to run for the Senate in Florida next year against Sen. Bill Nelson (D)? It certainly looks like it. Mack is perhaps best known for being the son and great-grandson of U.S. senators.
* And in Nevada, Rory Reid’s (D) gubernatorial campaign didn’t turn out well for him last year, but with Nevada poised to gain a new U.S. House seat, don’t be surprised to see Reid run for the new post.
