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:
* New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie’s (R) recent trip to Florida during a blizzard at home hasn’t done any drastic damage to his public standing. A new survey from Public Policy Polling shows him with a 48% approval rating.
* On a related note, the same PPP poll, however, shows President Obama with a sizable lead over Christie in New Jersey in a hypothetical 2012 match-up. In fact, Christie trails the president in the governor’s own state by 17 points.
* Ohio Republicans have been looking for a credible challenger to take on Sen. Sherrod Brown (D) next year, and they appear to have found their recruit: Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor (R) has said she’s 90% certain to run.
* Finding a top-tier opponent to take on Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D) in Minnesota in 2012 is proving more difficult for the GOP. Rep. John Kline (R) was asked if he’s interested, and he replied, “No, it’s not crossing my mind. My plate’s full at this time.”
* Rep. Shelley Berkley (D) appears to be Dems’ best chance at winning Nevada’s U.S. Senate seat in 2012, but she remains uncertain about her plans. Berkley said yesterday she’ll make an announcement one way or the other by late spring or early summer.
* Speaking of Nevada, it’s a traditionally “red” state, but the latest survey from Public Policy Polling shows Nevadans leaning towards voting for President Obama again. The incumbent leads all of his likely GOP challengers in the state, but by very different margins. Mitt Romney fares the best, trailing Obama by only one point, while Sarah Palin fares the worst, trailing by 13.
* It’s long been assumed that former Sen. Jim Talent (R) would take on Sen. Claire McCaskill (D) next year, but at this point, Talent is hedging and may skip the race.
* And in Iowa, a new Neighborhood Research poll shows former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee (R) as the early favorite in Iowa’s 2012 caucuses, with 24% support. Romney was second with 19%, and Palin third with 11%. The rest of the field was in single digits.
