Today’s installment of campaign-related news items that won’t necessarily generate a post of their own, but may be of interest to political observers:
* Americans United for Change, a major progressive group, is making a “significant” ad buy targeting 10 vulnerable House Republicans over the government shutdown. This video, for example, will run in Rep. Tom Latham’s (R-Iowa) district.
*Rep. Steve Israel (D-N.Y.), chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, told Greg Sargent yesterday that the shutdown is having a positive impact on Dems’ 2014 recruiting efforts. “After witnessing this reckless and irresponsible behavior, the environment has now become so toxic that these recruits now want to reopen the conversation about running,” Israel said. “This shutdown is showing what we’ve seen from the beginning — that Republicans’ disconnect from reality is our single greatest recruiting tool.”
* In New Jersey’s U.S. Senate special election, a new Quinnipiac poll shows Cory Booker (D) leading Steve Lonegan (R) by 12 points, 53% to 41%. Voters head to the polls a week from today.
* On a related note, Gov. Chris Christie (R) participated in a debate last night, and would not commit to serving all of his second term if he’s re-elected.
* In Wisconsin, almost immediately after Democratic gubernatorial hopeful Mary Burke launched her campaign this week, conservatives took an acute interest in her hairstyles. * Speaking of misogyny, the California Republican Party held a convention over the weekend, and featured a vendor selling buttons that said the following: “KFC Hillary Special: 2 fat thighs, 2 small breasts… left wing.” The buttons were later removed. * And in Colorado, where the NRA and its allies still hope to recall one more Democratic state senator, the chair of the state Republican Party is concerned the effort may interfere with his party’s 2014 plans.
Steve Benen is a producer for "The Rachel Maddow Show," the editor of MaddowBlog and an MS NOW political contributor. He's also the bestselling author of "Ministry of Truth: Democracy, Reality, and the Republicans' War on the Recent Past." Recommended
