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 New Hampshire, the latest WMUR poll found Mitt Romney with a huge lead in the nation’s first primary state, enjoying 42% support. Newt Gingrich is a distant second with 15%.
* Rep. Charlie Gonzalez (D-Texas), the chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, announced on Friday that he will retire at the end of this Congress. Gonzalez is wrapping up his seventh term. State Rep. Joaquin Castro (D) appears likely to run in the Democratic district.
* Rick Perry’s campaign is using video that was also used by Perry’s Super PAC, which is raising legal questions about possible coordination.
* Sheriff Joe Arpaio of Maricopa County, Arizona, will apparently throw his support to Perry’s presidential campaign.
* Is the Senate race in Arizona a pick-up opportunity for Democrats? It sure looks like it — a new survey from Public Policy Polling shows Rep. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) leading former U.S. Surgeon General Richard Carmona (D) by just four points.
* Don’t be too surprised if former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson drops his Republican presidential bid and runs for the Libertarian Party nomination.
* How worried is Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) about being recalled? He’s already launched two separate television ads.
* A new court-approved district map in Texas will likely cost Republicans at least two U.S. House seats, and perhaps as many as four. State officials hope the U.S. Supreme Court intervenes to block the new district lines.
* In Montana, a Republican attack ad targeting Sen. Jon Tester (D) manipulated an image; a Crossroads attack ad targeting Tester was pulled over inaccuracies; and a new U.S. Chamber of Commerce attack ad targeting Tester spelled the senator’s name wrong.
