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 new Bloomberg National Poll shows Rick Perry leading Mitt Romney in the race for the Republican nomination, 26% to 22%. No other candidate reaches double digits. Both of the leading GOP candidates trailed President Obama in the poll in hypothetical match-ups.
* On a related note, the latest national survey from Public Policy Polling shows Perry leading Romney, 31% to 18%. In a two-way contest, with the rest of the Republican field excluded, Perry tops Romney, 49% to 37%,
* The latest Ipsos/Reuters poll also shows the president leading both Romney and Perry nationwide, by margins of six and eight points, respectively.
* After four terms, New Hampshire’s popular incumbent governor, Democrat John Lynch, announced this morning he won’t seek re-election next year.
* At the state level, Romney leads Perry in California by eight points among Republican primary voters, while Perry leads Romney in Virginia by six points.
* Speaking of Virginia, a new Quinnipiac poll shows former Sen. George Allen (R) with a narrow lead over former Gov. Tim Kaine (D) in next year’s Senate race, 45% to 44%.
* In Missouri, the latest survey from Public Policy Polling shows incumbent Gov. Jay Nixon (D) cruising past Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder (R) in a potential match-up, 50% to 31%.
* In Wisconsin, Rep. Ron Kind (D) announced this morning he won’t run for the Senate, helping clear the way for Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D) to win the party’s nomination.
* In Indiana, state Sen. Mike Delph (R) has decided not to run for the Senate. The significance of this is that it sets up a two-way GOP primary next year between incumbent Sen. Dick Lugar and Richard Mourdock.
* Herman Cain’s Republican presidential campaign apparently tried to hide a top adviser who is gay.
