MONDAY’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:
* As part of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s “Drive for 25” campaign, the House committee is launching a round of radio ads, web ads, phone calls, and emails this week, targeting 19 GOP incumbents for their support of Republican spending cuts. Nearly all of the 19 GOP House members represent districts won by President Obama in 2008.
* The far-right American Future Fund has launched an attack ad in Nebraska, targeting Sen. Ben Nelson (D) on health care. The dishonest spot is ostensibly about urging support for health care repeal.
* It’s not entirely clear if the Tea Party Express intends to bring down Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) in a primary next year, but Club for Growth has made up its mind, and it intends to go after the incumbent senator.
* Sen. Claire McCaskill (D) has another official challenger in Missouri, with failed congressional candidate Ed Martin (R) launching his campaign this morning.
* All evidence suggests U.S. Ambassador to China Jon Huntsman really is planning a presidential campaign in 2012 as a Republican. No ambassador in American history has ever served an administration, and then resigned to run against the president he served.
* Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour (R) is apparently moving closer to his own presidential bid, and is calling major GOP donors, urging them to “keep their powder dry” until he makes a formal decision.
* The latest surveys from Public Policy Polling show Mike Huckabee leading the 2012 Republican pack in West Virginia and North Carolina. Mitt Romney, who fares well in many other states, is trailing badly in both of these contests.
* And former President George W. Bush was nowhere to be found in the 2010 midterm elections, and apparently plans to keep an equally low profile in 2012. Democratic officials are likely disappointed by the news.
