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 special election in New York’s 9th congressional district appears to be slipping away from Democrats. A new Siena poll, released this morning, shows Robert Turner (R) taking the lead over David Weprin (D), 50% to 44%.
* The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, which hoped to win in New York’s 9th fairly easily, is now scrambling. The DCCC has made a $483,500 TV ad buy in the district.
* The National Republican Congressional Committee, which didn’t expect to win this special election and wasn’t willing to spend money there, is now “inquiring about buying advertising time on costly New York City broadcast television from now until the special election on Sept. 13.”
* Karl Rove’s attack operation, American Crossroads, has more than doubled its initial $120 million fundraising goal from earlier this year.
* Jon Huntsman’s presidential campaign, still struggling badly in the polls, is now changing his finance team and moving resources from Florida to New Hampshire. I don’t think it’s going to help.
* Speaking of Huntsman, South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley (R), whose presidential endorsement will be widely sought, said yesterday she won’t even consider supporting Jon Huntsman.
* North Carolina Gov. Bev Perdue (D) is still struggling in the polls, but her handling of the Hurricane Irene disaster has given her a boost with her constituents.
* Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says there is a “below zero” chance that she will launch a primary challenge in 2012.
* Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich told supporters last night, “I have people tell me on a regular basis, ‘Gee, are you still running?’” That seems like a bad sign.
