Discover GOP Opprobrium

[teapeebubbles]

Today's installment of campaign-related news items that wouldn't generate a post of their own, but may be of interest to political observers.

* New York Gov. David Paterson has kinda sorta decided who he'll pick to replace Hillary Clinton in the Senate, saying he has "a good idea now which direction" he'll go in. Rumor has it, we'll hear something on Friday.

* Norm Coleman's lawyers still want more absentee ballots counted.

* A new poll shows the 2010 Senate race in Florida, where incumbent Mel Martinez (R) has announced his retirement at the end of his term, to be wide open.

* Similarly, the 2010 Senate race in Ohio, where incumbent George Voinovich (R) has announced his retirement at the end of his term, also has no clear frontrunner, though former Bush administration official Rob Portman (R) appears to have the early edge.

* Fox News' Sean Hannity has not only endorsed Michael Steele's bid for the chairmanship of the Republican National Committee, he's also begun campaigning for the former Maryland Lt. Gov.

* And finally, it appears actor Val Kilmer is considering a gubernatorial campaign in New Mexico at the end of Bill Richardson's term. He told The Hill on Monday that "they've asked me to run for governor," though he didn't say who "they are." It's also unclear what party's nomination he would seek -- Kilmer supported Nader over Obama in 2008.