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.

* After his third-place showing in Hawaii's recent special election, former Rep. Ed Case (D) announced that he will not run again this fall. The decision clears the way for state Senate President Colleen Hanabusa (D) to take on Rep. Charles Djou (R) in a head-to-head match-up. (thanks to several alert readers for passing this along)

* In the wake of the controversy over Rand Paul's (R) extreme worldview, multiple polls show a competitive Senate race in Kentucky, though Paul is still ahead. A Bluegrass Poll, for example, shows the right-wing ophthalmologist leading state Attorney General Jack Conway (D) by six, 51% to 45%.

* Still more evidence that Connecticut voters aren't swayed by the Vietnam-related controversy: a Research 2000 poll shows state Attorney General Richard Blumenthal (D) leading wrestling executive Linda McMahon (R), 52% to 33%.

* With a week to go before California's Republican primaries, a USC/LA Times poll shows Carly Fiorina leading Tom Campbell in the Senate race 38% to 23%. The same poll shows Meg Whitman leading Steve Poizner in a gubernatorial primary, 53% to 29%.

* Rep. Mark Kirk, the Republican Senate candidate in Illinois, exaggerated his military service on multiple occasions, usually in print. There is a video, however, of Kirk misstating the truth during a congressional hearing.

* Recent polling out of Georgia suggest former Gov. Roy Barnes won't have any trouble winning this year's Democratic gubernatorial primary.

* And in South Carolina, the latest survey from Public Policy Polling shows incumbent Sen. Jim DeMint (R) leading Vic Rawl (D), 49% to 30%. DeMint is, of course, the heavy favorite, but I'm a little surprised DeMint is below 50%.