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:
* Maine's embattled Republican governor, Paul LePage, told reporters last week that he's decided not to run for Congress, despite suggestions to the contrary a few days prior. What's more, the far-right governor, elected in 2010 with just 38% of the vote in a three-way race, also said he may not seek re-election next year.
* The New York Timesreported over the weekend on a new Republican effort intended to undermine Hillary Clinton: "Republican strategists and presidential hopefuls, in ways subtle and overt, are eager to focus a spotlight on Mrs. Clinton's age. The former secretary of state will be 69 by the next presidential election, a generation removed from most of the possible Republican candidates." This seems like a very bad idea.
* Rep. John Campbell (R) of California announced late last week that he will not seek re-election in 2014. Democrats hope to put the seat in play, but California's 45th is generally considered a safe Republican seat.
* Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) made his first trip to South Carolina on Friday, hoping to "build on the grassroots organization his father established in his two presidential runs."
* Former half-term Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is threatening to help create a third party -- apparently called the "Freedom Party" -- if her radicalized Republican Party "continues to abandon its conservative principles."
* In Massachusetts, state Attorney General Martha Coakley's (D) 2010 U.S. Senate bid did not go well, but three years later, she's switching gears and looking to run for governor next year.
* In New York City, an NBC News/Marist Poll found former Rep. Anthony Weiner leading Christine Quinn by five, 25% to 20%, in a Democratic primary.
* And former Rep. Ben Quayle (R-Ariz.) was rumored to be interested in running again, but has since decided to skip the race against freshman Rep. Kyrsten Sinema (D).
