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:
* In case you missed it over the weekend, the Des Moines Register‘s respected Iowa Poll shows Mitt Romney narrowly leading Michele Bachmann in the Hawkeye State, 23% to 22%. Herman Cain is third with 10%, followed by Newt Gingrich and Ron Paul with 7% each. Tim Pawlenty is sixth with 6%, Rick Santorum is next with 4%, and Jon Huntsman, who has already said he won’t compete in Iowa, is eighth with 2%.
* Speaking of Iowa, Bachmann officially launched her presidential campaign again this morning, delivering an announcement speech in Waterloo, Iowa, where she was born.
* South Carolina’s closely-watched presidential primary may be scrapped in 2012, due to a budget dispute and Gov. Nikki Haley’s (R) expected veto of a spending bill. If cancelled, the South Carolina GOP would instead hold a caucus.
* Late on Friday afternoon, Karl Rove’s attack operation, Crossroads GPS, launched a $20 million ad campaign going after President Obama. The ads will start running today, and will be financed entirely by undisclosed contributions.
* The next debate for Republican presidential candidates was scheduled for mid-July in Las Vegas, but organizers postponed the event after Mitt Romney and Jon Huntsman said they wouldn’t participate. Co-sponsors of the debate said they’ll reschedule soon, and hope that Texas Gov. Rick Perry will be in the race by the time the debate is held.
* Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.), a very influential figure in right-wing circles, hasn’t said who he’ll endorse in the GOP presidential primaries, but he’s ruled out Huntsman.
* In Montana’s gubernatorial race, PPP shows Rep. Rick Hill (R) narrowly leading state Attorney General Steve Bullock (D), 39% to 37%. Bullock is considered the leading Democratic contender, though he has not yet announced.
* In Nevada, a Republican poll found Rep. Shelley Berkley (D) leading appointed Sen. Dean Heller (R) in next year’s U.S. Senate race, 46% to 44%.
* And speaking of Nevada, the Nevada Democratic Central Committee has picked state Treasurer Kate Marshall to run in the special election in the state’s 2nd congressional district. Her challenger will likely be former state Sen. Mark Amodei, who was chosen by the state GOP last week.
