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 national polls, the new ABC News/Washington Post poll shows Mitt Romney leading the field with 35%, with Newt Gingrich, Ron Paul, and Rick Santorum battling it out for second place. Rick Perry is the only candidate who isn’t in double digits.
* On a related note, Gallup also shows Romney with the national lead, enjoying 37% support. Santorum and Gingrich are tied for second with 14% each, followed by Paul at 12%.
* With just five days until the South Carolina primary, a new Monmouth University poll shows Romney with a double-digit lead in the Palmetto State, topping Gingrich, 33% to 22%.
* Florida’s primary will come soon after South Carolina’s, and Public Policy Polling shows Romney cruising there, too. PPP has Romney ahead of Gingrich, 41% to 26%.
* Democratic officials announced this morning that the final night of this year’s Democratic National Convention will feature President Obama speaking at Bank of America stadium, the 74,000-seat stadium where the NFL’s Carolina Panthers play.
* Virginia’s U.S. Senate race got a little more interesting this week, with Bob Marshall, one of the most right-wing voices in Virginia’s House of Delegates, announcing he’ll run against former Sen. George Allen in the Republican primary.
* The Koch-financed Americans for Prosperity will invest roughly $8.4 million to buy television ads, hoping to persuade the public to care about the Solyndra “controversy.”
* In Indiana, Sen. Dick Lugar (R) is going on the air this week, hoping to beat back a far-right primary challenge. State Treasurer Richard Mourdock, Lugar’s opponent, is launching TV ads of his own.
* And Rep. Allen West (R-Fla.), one of Congress’ most ridiculous members, told local reporters last week that he’s open to running as VP on the Republican Party’s 2012 ticket, if the eventual nominee is interested.
