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:
* Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R) raised some eyebrows this week when he said he didn’t care if some states passed marriage-equality laws. The likely presidential candidate switched gears yesterday, saying he supports states’ rights, but not when it comes to gay marriage.
* Republican presidential hopeful Jon Huntsman mocked rival Mitt Romney yesterday for taking the coward’s way out and refusing to take a position on Speaker Boehner’s budget plan. Huntsman did not, however, mention Romney’s name, only criticizing his “opponents in the race [who] haven’t even come up with” a stance.
* Some of the left’s heavy hitters — including Americans United for Change, SEIU, AFL-CIO, and the NEA — are launching television ads in eight states, criticizing House Republicans over default threats.
* Speaking of progressive ad buys, the Progressive Change Campaign Committee and Democracy for America are launching spots in Wisconsin, as part of the state Senate recall effort.
* Republican presidential hopeful Michele Bachmann ducked questions about her husband’s scandalous “therapy” efforts, and said her husband should effectively be off limits since he isn’t a candidate. Bachmann spent quite a bit of time blasting Michelle Obama in 2008, but has apparently changed her approach.
* In New Jersey, the latest survey from Public Policy Polling shows Mitt Romney leading the GOP presidential race, but only barely against Bachmann, 22% to 21%.
* In North Carolina, the latest survey from Public Policy Polling shows Romney leading Bachmann by a nearly identical margin, 23% to 22%.
* And in Nevada, home to an upcoming House special election, the GOP expects to keep this “red” seat, but the National Republican Congressional Committee isn’t taking any chances. The Republican committee launched $171,000 in attack ads yesterday.
