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:
* South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley (R) threw her support to Mitt Romney this morning. Haley’s endorsement has been widely sought by GOP candidates, since South Carolina hosts the third Republican nominating contest.
* Casino magnate Sheldon Adelson is reportedly prepared to invest $20 million in support of Newt Gingrich’s campaign. If true, it would have a huge impact on the race. (The spending is made possible by the Supreme Court’s Citizens United ruling.)
* In a new national poll from the Associated Press/GfK, a narrow majority of Americans believe President Obama doesn’t deserve a second term. But in hypothetical match-ups against Romney and Gingrich, the president is ahead of both.
* With just 18 days left before the Iowa caucuses, Gingrich has decided to leave the campaign trail and take the weekend off. I find that inexplicable.
* In Virginia, the latest survey from Public Policy Polling shows Obama leading Romney by six points, and Gingrich by seven points, in general election match-ups.
* PPP also found former Gov. Tim Kaine (D) leading former Sen. George Allen, 47% to 42%, in Virginia’s 2012 U.S. Senate race.
* As expected, a federal court has upheld a new congressional-district map in Illinois, which is likely to help Democrats pick up a few U.S. House seats next year.
* On a related note, Pennsylvania Republicans have completed their new district boundaries, and the new lines are intended to protect every vulnerable GOP incumbent.
* In just 30 days, Wisconsin Democrats have already collected 507,000 signatures in the hopes of forcing a recall election against Gov. Scott Walker (R).
* Rep. Geoff Davis (R-Ky.) will not seek re-election in 2012. Republicans expect to keep the seat in GOP hands.
* Is Rep. Paul Ryan (R) vulnerable in his Wisconsin district? It’s certainly a race worth watching.
* And yes, Bill Clinton will campaign for President Obama next year.
