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:
* Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) told an audience in D.C. yesterday, “I am not going to be the Vice Presidential nominee. I am not going to be the Vice Presidential nominee.” Asked if he would turn down a ticket invitation from his party’s nominee, Rubio said, “Yea, I believe so,” adding again, “the answer is gonna be no.”
* With Florida having blown up the nominating calendar, Republican officials in Nevada have moved their presidential caucuses to Jan. 14. This will very likely push the New Hampshire primary to Jan. 3, which would in turn push the Iowa caucuses into December.
* President Obama is headed back on the road, taking a bus tour to North Carolina and Virginia in about two weeks.
* Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain was asked why he thinks homosexuality is a choice. “Well, you show me the science that it’s not and I’ll be persuaded,” Cain said.
* A bipartisan redistricting commission in Arizona is eyeing new, post-Census lines, which would likely benefit Democratic candidates. Republican officials, including Gov. Jan Brewer (R) have vowed to try to kill the bipartisan plan.
* In Nebraska, Sen. Ben Nelson (D) doesn’t have a high approval rating, but he appears to be reducing the gap in advance of his re-election fight. The latest survey from Public Policy Polling shows Nelson trailing Jon Bruning (R), 46% to 42%. Earlier this year, Bruning was up by 11.
* In Florida, PPP found Sen. Bill Nelson (D) below the 50% threshold, but nevertheless leading his GOP challengers by double digits.
* The most crowded race the country? The Republican gubernatorial primary in Montana, which now has eight credible candidates.
