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.

* Mike Quigley, a Democrat and reform-minded Cook County commissioner, won the special election in Chicago yesterday to fill the seat recently held by Rahm Emanuel.

* Sarah Palin had hinted at possible interest in challenging Sen. Lisa Murkowski in a Republican primary next year, but the governor's spokesperson said yesterday that Palin "has no intention of running for the senator's seat in 2010."

* As of late yesterday, Jim Tedisco (R) leads Scott Murphy (D) in New York's 20th by 17 votes.

* Why are Republicans so desperate to get Sen. Jim Bunning (R-Ky.) to retire? It might have something to do with his 28% approval rating in his home state.

* If North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper (D) runs against Sen. Richard Burr (R) next year, it'll make the NRSC awfully nervous.

* Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Penn.) picked up an odd endorsement yesterday, winning the support of radio shock-jock Howard Stern.

* And in Virginia's closely watched gubernatorial race, the Democratic Party of Virginia is using controversial comments from Sarah Palin in 2008 to mobilize party activists.