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:
* In a big surprise, Rep. Steven LaTourette (R-Ohio), a relative moderate, confirmed this morning that he will retire at the end of the year and is not seeking re-election.
* Julian Castro, the Democratic mayor of San Antonio and widely considered a rising star, will deliver the keynote address at the Democratic National Convention. Castro, just 37 years old, will be the first Latino to ever serve the keynote speaker at a major-party convention.
* Mitt Romney’s super PAC unveiled a new television ad touting his work at the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics. Romney’s management of the games has been the subject of increasing scrutiny of late.
* Romney also released a minute-long bio spot, which includes the candidate urging Americans to “believe in the America you built,” which is a not-so-subtle reference to the out-of-context line Romney is building his entire presidential campaign around.








