Today’s installment of campaign-related news items that won’t necessarily generate a post of their own, but may be of interest to political observers:
* With the special election for New York’s 26th district getting increasingly interesting, Karl Rove’s attack operation, American Crossroads, is launching $350,000 worth of attack ads this week. Next week, the right-wing entity is expected to drop another $300,000 in the race.
* On a related note, with far-right funds reaching the special-election race, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is investing $250,000 in the Buffalo-area district, and the House Majority PAC may soon follow with an ad buy of its own.
* In still more news out of New York’s 26th, both of New York’s Democratic senators — Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand — will be campaigning in support of Kathy Hochul’s (D) campaign early next week.
* Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels (R) has not yet launched a presidential campaign, but he’s already boasting about his chances. He said his chances of defeating President Obama “would actually be quite good,” though he said “that’s really not a factor” in his decision.
* The latest CNN poll found Democrats leading Republicans on the generic congressional ballot, 50% to 46%. It’s the Dems’ biggest lead in a long while.
* In Virginia, President Obama appears to be surprisingly strong in the latest Public Policy Polling survey. The president leads all of his likely GOP challengers in the Commonwealth by margins ranging from nine (vs. Huckabee) to 22 (vs. Palin).
* The Obama administration’s former ambassador to China, Jon Huntsman, will begin a five-day swing through New Hampshire, starting a week from tomorrow, in advance of his Republican presidential campaign.
* Lt. General Ricardo Sanchez (D) will launch his U.S. Senate campaign in Texas today.
* And the latest national poll from the Associated Press shows President Obama’s approval rating up to 60%, its highest point in two years.
