The main course in electoral politics this evening is, quite obviously, Virginia. But the dessert menu tonight ain't so shabby, either.
FL-GOV: New Independent Poll Gives Sink Small Lead over McCollum
Quinnipiac released a new poll on the Florida Governor's race this morning, and found Democratic state C.F.O. Alex Sink with a slight lead over Republican state Attorney General Bill McCollum. Sink holds a 38-34 lead over McCollum. Both have pretty admirable fav/unfav ratios in the poll, although two-thirds of voters did not know enough about Sink to form an opinion.
MN-GOV: Possible GOP Contender Contracts Swine Flu
Certainly, some were expecting a joke here about politicians having a reputation for being pigs, but given the potential seriousness of the health scare, it seemed wildly inappropriate. According to The Hill, former state auditor Pat Anderson (a likely GOP candidate for governor) has contracted the Swine Flu, along with her teenaged daughter. Both appear to be OK, and Anderson reports it feels no more severe than a regular flu.
NC-SEN: Burr May Be About To Draw A Major Democratic Contender
Democrats may be about to lure a top-tier challenger for Richard Burr in next year's US Senate campaign in North Carolina. Secretary of State Elaine Marshall, who lost a Senate primary bid in 2002 to Erskine Bowles, is contemplating getting back in the ring for another round. Remember that just yesterday, Congressman Heath Shuler demurred from a bid next year.
NY-SEN: Maloney Claims Polling Lead, But....
Politico reports that Carolyn Maloney's soon-to-be campaign team is passing around a poll which claims that they are in a strong position against Democratic Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand. A couple of caveats: the double-digit lead being thrown around in some places was preceded by a series of positive statements about Maloney that could probably get her nominated for sainthood, followed by a series of very brutal statements about Gillibrand. So take that figure with a huge grain of salt.
Furthermore, even the polling before "message testing" (which did, for the record, stake Maloney to a two-point lead over Gillibrand) had Maloney's name recognition at 49%. Maybe, but there is at least a little cause for skepticism. Half the state knows someone who is one Congressperson out of twenty-nine? While only 65% know someone who is one of two senators, recently appointed in a fairly high-profile manner? It is possible, of course, but a figure like this is crying out for some independent corroborating evidence.
NY-23: A Look At The Potential Field In A Special Election
Swing State Project, as always, does a fine job looking at looking at the potential field in a special election to replace Secretary of the Army-designate John McHugh in upstate New York's 23rd congressional district. In an additional bit of good news today, SSP also reports that the chairman of the Independence Party stated that if Democrat Darrel Aubertine throws his hat into the ring, then the Independence Party is willing to cross-endorse. That could give Aubertine a critical few percentage points in a close election.