WEDNESDAY’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 of yesterday afternoon, Wisconsin Democrats were prepared to file recall petitions against a fourth state Senate Republican, with far more signatures collected than needed. The deadline for recall filings is less than a week away, and while Republicans say they’re likely to force one Democrat into a recall election, no paperwork has yet been filed by the GOP.
* Speaking of Wisconsin, the state Governmental Accountability Board, which oversees elections, has found no evidence of wrongdoing in the recent state Supreme Court race. Conservative Justice David Prosser edged past JoAnne Kloppenburg after more than 7,000 votes mysteriously showed up the day after the election.
* We saw further evidence that Jon Huntsman really is serious about his Republican presidential campaign emerged yesterday, when his Horizon PAC hired veteran pollster Whit Ayres.
* A new Democratic group, House Majority PAC, launched tough new radio ads today, targeting 10 vulnerable House Republicans. The ads tell voters that these GOP incumbents voted for a budget plan that will “gut Medicare for our seniors to pay for trillions in new budget-busting tax breaks for millionaires and big corporations.”
* After having a little time to evaluate the GOP field, 40% of Republican voters aren’t satisfied with their presidential choices.
* A new Quinnipiac poll shows New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie’s (R) approval rating dropping to 47% among his constituents. In a match-up against President Obama in the Garden state, the governor trails the president, 52% to 39%.
* It’s unclear if former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee (R) will run for president again, but if he does, Public Policy Polling shows him starting with a big lead in the Iowa caucuses.
* Speaking of Iowa, former Iowa first lady Christie Vilsack (D) has purchased a home in Ames, as part of an expected congressional campaign against Rep. Steve King (R).
* And in Chicago, Rep. Dan Lipinski has consistently been one of Congress’ less-reliable Democrats, and now it may cost him — John Atkinson, a wealthy insurance executive and health care activist is poised to run a well-financed primary campaign against the Democratic incumbent.
