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:
* The latest data from Gallup shows that more than one in five Americans (22%) would oppose a Mormon presidential candidate based on religion alone. That’s probably not good news for Republicans Mitt Romney and Jon Huntsman, both of whom are Mormons.
* At the Republican Leadership Conference over the weekend, Rep. Ron Paul won the presidential straw poll, with Huntsman coming in a surprising second. How did Huntsman, who wasn’t even at the event, do so well? He had some friends pull some strings.
* Romney has decided not to sign a sweeping pledge in opposition to abortion rights, pushed by the Susan B. Anthony List. The GOP frontrunner is, as a result, taking some heat from some of his rivals, including Michele Bachmann.
* Thanks to a boost from the Obama Victory Fund, the Democratic National Committee outraised the Republican National Committee in May, $10.5 million to $6.2 million.
* On the other hand, the National Republican Congressional Committee ended May with twice as much cash on hand as the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.
* Former Sen. George Allen (R), trying to regain his old seat, has changed his mind about ethanol subsidies quite a few times. As of this week, Allen opposes the industry funds, but he was for them before he was against them.
* In California, a Field Poll shows Romney as the clear favorite among Republicans in the state, with Rudy Giuliani, who appears unlikely to run, as his next closest competitor.
* In Michigan, Republicans continue to struggle to find a credible candidate to take on Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D) next year. Yesterday, radio personality Frank Bechmann became the latest possible recruit to turn the state GOP down.
* And in New Jersey, a new Quinnipiac poll shows Gov. Chris Christie’s (R) approval rating down to 44%. Most of his constituents don’t want to see him on the Republicans’ national ticket, either.
