Some of the bigger (and funnier) campaign news is already on the front page--check out, in particular, DeMint's endorsement of the right wing insurgent candidate in Florida, as well as the Norm Coleman saga that will never end, if Norm gets his way.
Onto the rest of the goings-on in Campaign 2009...2010...2012...
WH 2012: T-Paw Ready to Dip His Toes in the Water
Well, it's not a surprise, but now we have a probable motive for Tim Pawlenty's decision not to seek another term as governor. Washington Whispers is reporting that Pawlenty is about to embark on a two-year long "listening tour" of sorts, checking to see if the appetite is there on the part of the GOP electorate for a Pawlenty 2012 bid. H/T on this story to Taegan Goddard, who also posts today that another campaign for 2012 is starting to warm up its engines--that of Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal.
RACE FOR THE HOUSE: The Early Target Lists for 2010?
Crisitunity over at Swing State has looked at recently released information from the DCCC and NRCC, and finds a list of eight Republicans and thirteen Democrats that are on the target lists. Neither list contains any real shockers, although the list does make clear that the DCCC is going to back their high-profile challengers in three districts (PA-06, FL-10, DE-AL) that are not yet open, but could well be open by 2010. Curious, on the GOP side, to see them going after OH-01 and OH-15, but NOT OH-16. Boccieri's comfortable win there must have scared them off somewhat.
KS-GOV/KS-SEN: One Blowout, One Nailbiter, According to SUSA Poll on GOP Races
SurveyUSA takes an early temperature on the Republican primaries in both the gubernatorial and Senate races in the Sunflower State. In the gubernatorial race, U.S. Senator Sam Brownback has a huge lead over KS Sec. of State Ron Thornburgh (58-19). Meanwhile, in the race to replace Brownback, it is predictably close between two of the state's GOP Congressman. Jerry Moran, considered the more moderate of the two candidates, has a mere two point edge on Wichita Congressman Todd Tiahrt (40-38).
MN-GOV: Bachmann Refused To Slam Door On Gubernatorial Aspirations
Kossacks hoping for Michele Bachmann to take her show statewide may get their wish after all. After her spokesperson issued a rather vague denial of a Bachmann bid for Governor, Bachmann herself left the door open in an interview with MPR, saying that she would absolutely jump into the race if she "felt the tug." She said that "right now" she feels her place is in the House. One way to kill a denial of interest? Using the words "right now" to discuss your current circumstance...
MO-SEN: 2010 Field May Already Set In Show-Me State
The Hill reports an interesting development in the open U.S. Senate race in Missouri to replace retiring Republican Kit Bond. It appears as if Missouri state Treasurer Sarah Steelman, long rumored to be a candidate for the U.S. Senate, is apparently stepping back from that race, and may instead focus on the House seat being opened up by MO-07 Congressman (and U.S. Senate candidate) Roy Blunt.
That would, for all intents and purposes, clear the field for both sides. This would mean that the likely November matchup would be between Democratic MO Secretary of State Robin Carnahan and GOP Congressman Roy Blunt. Carnahan had a narrow lead in recent polling.
NH-02: First Confirmed GOP Candidate in Democratic Open Seat Race
The Boston Globe reports that Republicans have their first official candidate in the open seat contest in NH-02 to replace Congressman Paul Hodes (who is preparing to run for the U.S. Senate). The prospective candidate is Bob Giuda, who once served in the NH state House of Representatives (and with 400 representatives in the 41st largest state in the Union, who hasn't??).
Giuda is the lone Republican to officially announce a bid, though others are still looking at the race. Thus far, a handful of Democrats are already in the race.
VA-GOV: Deeds Gets A High Profile Assist On the Internet
Now that the primary has been dispensed with, President Obama seems eager to lend a hand to newly-minted Democratic nominee Creigh Deeds. In an email that went out to the Organizing for America e-mail list (Obama's former campaign e-mail list), Obama minces few words in advocating for the state Senator for central Virginia:
Creigh has an ability to bring people together, build consensus and deliver results. He will bring the same bipartisan, pragmatic approach to politics that former Governor and now Senator Mark Warner and my friend Governor Tim Kaine used to help Virginia move forward over the past eight years.
I know that approach works because I've spent some time in your great Commonwealth. In my experience, Democratic candidates with a pragmatic approach to solving problems can be successful. That's the approach my campaign took last November to put Virginia in the Democratic column for the first time since 1964. And that's how Creigh Deeds will win this fall.
WI-GOV: Doyle in Danger, According to PPP Survey
PPP goes into the Midwest and finds Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle in deep trouble against two prospective GOP challengers. According to the pollster, Doyle trails Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker by eight (48-40) and former Congressman Mark Neumann by one (42-41). This, of course, stands in pretty stark contrast to last week's Daily Kos/Research 2000 poll in the state, which had Doyle leading both candidates by double digits (but with less than 50% of the vote in each case). PPP did not test Lt. Governor Barbara Lawton, who is a probable entrant into the race if Doyle elects not to attempt to serve a third term.