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:
* A new New York Times/CBS News poll confirms what we already knew: Newt Gingrich is leading the Republican presidential field in Iowa. The disgraced former House Speaker is ahead with 31%, followed by Mitt Romney with 17%, and Ron Paul with 16%.
* On a related note, the same poll found Romney struggling with Iowa Republicans who rely on Fox News. With nearly 40% of Iowa GOP voter saying they get most of their news from the Republican network, that’s bad news for Romney.
* In North Carolina, the latest survey from Public Policy Polling shows Gingrich with a huge lead over Romney, 51% to 14%.
* In Colorado, Public Policy Polling also found Gingrich leading Romney, 37% to 18%.
* Romney told Fox News yesterday that he will not participate in the NewsMax debate later this month moderated by Donald Trump.
* Rick Perry raised quite a bit of money after launching his presidential campaign, and faced with no choice, he’s now starting to spend it rather aggressively. Yesterday, Perry’s camp invested $1 million in TV ad time in Iowa for the three weeks leading up to the caucuses.
* The process is a little complicated, but the bottom line is the Gingrich campaign is going to have to scramble a bit to make sure he qualifies for the Republican primary ballot in Ohio.
* Though most recent polling shows a very competitive Senate race in Florida, Public Policy Polling shows incumbent Sen. Bill Nelson (D) leading Rep. Connie Mack (R), 46% to 35%.
* Pennsylvania Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi (R) was moving closer to a Senate campaign against incumbent Sen. Bob Casey (D), but Pileggi changed his mind and withdrew from consideration.
* And while Republicans are confident that Nebraska’s Senate seat is a key pick-up opportunity next year, party leaders are apparently underwhelmed by the GOP slate of candidates. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman John Cornyn want Gov. Dave Heineman (R) to run, whether Sen. Ben Nelson seeks re-election or not.
