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.

* The bottom falls out: the latest survey from Public Policy Polling shows Florida Gov. Charlie Crist trailing Marco Rubio in a Republican Senate primary by 32 points, 60% to 28%.

* Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), this year's chairman on the National Republican Senatorial Committee, said yesterday's he feels "honor-bound" to stick with his endorsement of Crist, but Cornyn didn't sound happy about it.

* In related news, Crist's new criticism of Rubio has him talking about his opponent possibly charging a "back wax" to the state GOP.

* In Colorado, Rasmussen shows former Rep. Scott McInnis (R) leading Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper (D) in this year's gubernatorial campaign, 48% to 42%.

* In Ohio, Rasmussen also shows former Bush Budget Director Rob Portman (R) with narrow leads over his Democratic challengers in this year's Senate race, topping Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher and Ohio Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner by about five points each.

* The Pennsylvania Democratic Party Executive Committee formally chose Mark Critz to run in the special election to fill John Murtha's vacancy. Critz, a former Murtha aide, will face a still unnamed Republican challenger on May 18.

* It wasn't unexpected, but in case there were any lingering doubts, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) formally filed his paperwork in Las Vegas yesterday to run for re-election.

* Right-wing activist Doug Hoffman, who lost a closely watched special election in New York's 23rd last year, will try again in November. Hoffman, who'll face Rep. Bill Owens (D) in a rematch, hopes to win the nominations of the Republican, Conservative, and Independence parties.