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 Texas, Gov. Rick Perry (R) intermixes state government and campaign fundraising: “Over three terms in office, Mr. Perry’s administration has doled out grants, tax breaks, contracts and appointments to hundreds of his most generous supporters and their businesses. And they have helped Mr. Perry raise more money than any politician in Texas history.”
* Though fundraising for both parties was off in July, the DCCC narrowly outraised the NRCC, $4.02 million to $3.88 million. The Republican House committee still has less debt than its Democratic counterpart.
* Former half-term Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin (R) released a video late Friday, emphasizing her affinity for Iowa. This, coupled with a scheduled Iowa trip on Sept. 3, has renewed speculation about a possible Palin presidential campaign.
* In New York’s upcoming special election to fill Anthony Weiner’s seat, the Uniformed Fire Officers Association and the Uniformed Firefighters Association have thrown their support to Democratic Assemblyman David Weprin.
* Speaking of New York, former Gov. George Pataki (R) is apparently still considering a presidential campaign, though no one’s sure why.
* If Democrats struggle in the 2012 elections, it may well be due to Democratic voters who don’t feel like showing up — Public Policy Polling shows Democratic voter enthusiasm waning badly.
* Though the comment sparked some controversy, Mitt Romney’s “corporations are people” line has been embraced by his campaign.
* In Ohio, Sen. Sherrod Brown (D) is still well ahead of all of his likely Republican challengers, but the margins have slipped since May.
* And speaking of Ohio, Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D), whose district will apparently disappear next year, is still shopping for a new state to run in. He attended Seattle’s Hempfest over the weekend, where he compared the effort to legalize marijuana to the Arab Spring.
